Dubai's Revenge

There’s something almost ironic about this second round. In February in Dubai, Bejlek had humiliated Sönmez 6–2 6–2 in 74 minutes, in what looked like a show of force from a player on the verge of breaking through. Four months later, they meet again in Eastbourne and everything has changed. The surface has changed, the form has changed, and the pecking order along with it.

Sönmez is like a fish in water on grass right now. Five wins in eight matches on the surface over the last 52 weeks, a solid win over Dart yesterday, a devastating second-serve return at 60.7%, and a Return Games Won rate of 44.9% that makes her one of the most dangerous returners in this tournament. On the Devonshire Park grass, her aggressive game and angles fully come to life. She’s creating almost one break chance per game (0.93 BPs Created) and is only giving up 0.64 break points to defend per match on average. She’s a pressure machine on grass.

Bejlek, for her part, comes in with a 1–2 career record on WTA grass after today’s win over Siegemund, and a 2–8 record in her ten matches prior to Eastbourne. This three-set comeback after losing the first set shows mental strength and resilience. But Siegemund was out of form, and the Czech’s serve, with only 55.3% of service games held, is going to suffer against a returner as effective as Sönmez. Her 1.03 break points to defend per match foreshadows a match where she’ll spend her time fighting to hold serve.