Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal have both advanced to the second round of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, showcasing impressive performances in their opening matches. The tournament is heating up, particularly with Boulter set to face top seed Elina Svitolina.
In the first round, Boulter, who entered the tournament as a wildcard, defeated Ukrainian qualifier Yulia Starodubtseva. Faced with the challenge of Svitolina, who currently holds a 1-0 head-to-head advantage, Boulter will need to harness her strong return game to overcome the formidable competition. Notably, Boulter has demonstrated effective break-point conversion, surpassing Svitolina in that regard. With the match anticipated to be competitive, analysts predict a straight-set victory for Svitolina due to her superior defensive skills.
Meanwhile, Sonay Kartal also made waves in her opening round, achieving a notable victory against seeded player Janice Tjen. Kartal is set to compete against Germany’s Ella Seidel, marking their first encounter. Kartal’s strong performance statistics throughout the tournament’s early stages bolster her position as a favorite, though Seidel has shown resilience and striking capability on the baseline. Predictions suggest a tightly contested match, possibly requiring three sets to determine the winner, with Kartal expected to edge out Seidel.
Both matches are generating excitement as the tournament progresses, with viewers eagerly awaiting the clash between Boulter and Svitolina as well as Kartal’s upcoming duel against Seidel. This tournament presents ample opportunity for emerging stars to shine on the hard courts of Auckland.