🎾 WTA Madrid: Anastasija Sevastova vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

🎾 WTA Madrid: Anastasija Sevastova vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

🇱🇻 Anastasija Sevastova

• Maternity comeback: Returned to tennis in early 2024 after a long break, only to suffer a torn ACL during her second tournament in Austin.
• Very limited play: Has competed in just one match since February 2024—a second-round exit at the Koper W75 ITF last week.
• Rust expected: With less than three matches in over two years, match sharpness remains a major concern despite her past Top-20 pedigree.
• Madrid flashback: Reached the semifinals here in 2017, though she's only played the event four times total.

🇷🇺 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

• Health setbacks: A viral illness disrupted her early-season schedule after a solid start in Australia.
• Still dangerous: Made the quarterfinals at the 2024 Australian Open and Cincinnati last season when healthy and dialed in.
• Madrid regular: Making her 16th appearance in the Spanish capital, though she’s endured six first-round exits—mixed results despite experience.
• H2H dominance: Leads the head-to-head 8–0 over Sevastova, with wins across multiple surfaces and match types.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This is a meeting between two veterans, both trying to reignite their careers amid fitness challenges. Sevastova is still in the early stages of her comeback from a major injury and has little match play under her belt. Her movement and timing are still likely works in progress.

Pavlyuchenkova, while not at her peak, has demonstrated flashes of strong form in 2024 and has the kind of muscle memory and court IQ to handle matches like this. Her overwhelming head-to-head dominance—8 wins to 0—suggests a strong mental edge as well.

Madrid’s conditions may favor power and control, which Pavlyuchenkova has in spades when on form. Sevastova will need to mix up pace and rely on her variety, but given her current match rust, sustaining that over two sets feels unlikely.

🔮 Prediction

Pick: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in 2 sets

While both are short on recent wins, Pavlyuchenkova’s experience, recent Grand Slam form, and perfect head-to-head record point toward a straight-sets victory.