The English revival

Katie has really come a long way!

This match is the classic clash between the hammer and the anvil. Katie Boulter will look to impose her law from the very first two shots of the rally. On this quick surface, her serve and forehand are weapons of mass destruction. And then against Volynets, her cross-court backhand evolved; it was actually a bit impressive, to be honest! If she stays accurate, she can turn Tamara Korpatsch into a complete spectator. However, Boulter has a long-standing tendency to get annoyed when the ball keeps coming back, and that’s exactly where the German excels.

Tamara Korpatsch will look to extend the rallies, mix things up with her slice, and wear down the Brit physically. But the time-on-court factor weighs heavily here: with more than 2 extra hours of battling in her legs and a game style based on defense, the German may run out of steam if Boulter keeps constant pressure. Katie is fresher, more powerful, and seems to have found the right indoor settings this week to avoid collapsing in a flurry of unforced errors.

This victory over Volynets (6-1, 6-3) in the Ostrava semifinal made a strong impression, with Katie saving 6 out of 7 break points with staggering authority to completely frustrate the American and elevate a tighter second set where she managed to keep the necessary nerves of steel. Tamara has the same mobility as Volynets, the same baseliner job. It will be a repeat performance for the final!