Eastbourne 2024: Jelena Ostapenko vs Katie Boulter preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Rothesay International
Match Details
Fixture: (5) Jelena Ostapenko vs Katie Boulter
Date: June 26, 2024
Tournament: Rothesay International 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 16)
Venue: Devonshire Park LTC, Eastbourne, United Kingdom
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Grass
Prize Money: $922,573
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Tennis Channel, BBC | Canada - TSN+
Jelena Ostapenko vs Katie Boulter preview
2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko will face home favorite Katie Boulter in the second round of the 2024 Rothesay International.
Ostapenko was drawn against qualifier Greet Minnen in the first round here. The Latvian was constantly on the back foot in the first set but rallied from a break down on three occasions to force a tie-break.
The tie-break was a different story as Ostapenko cleaned up her act to come out on top and claim the set. The second set proved to be a walk in the park for her as she conceded only one game in to score a 7-6 (3), 6-1 win.
Boulter's campaign in Eastbourne commenced against former top-15 player Petra Martic in the first round. The Brit raced through the opening set, giving away a solitary game in it en route to clinching the set.
Boulter broke to start the second set as she built a 3-1 lead. Martic then raised her level and bagged four games on the trot to go 5-3 up. However, she couldn't serve out the set as the Brit struck back to level the score.
The set eventually went to a tie-break, in which Martic had two consecutive set points. Boulter fended them off to bring up a match point, though she failed to get the job done. The Brit erased another set point and then closed out the match for a 6-1, 7-6 (8) win.
Jelena Ostapenko vs Katie Boulter head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between them, so the head-to-head stands at 0-0 for now.
Jelena Ostapenko vs Katie Boulter odds
(Odds will be added once they're available)
Jelena Ostapenko vs Katie Boulter prediction
Ostapenko found a way to snatch a close first set against Minnen and then wrapped up the match in a hurry. It played out the other way for Boulter, who nabbed an easy first set and then had to fight hard in the second set.
Ostapenko was the defending champion at last week's Rothesay Classic but was bundled out in the first round. With a win on grass now under her belt, she will be keen to make a deep run in Eastbourne yet again. She was the runner-up here in 2022 and won the tournament in 2021.
Boulter successfully defended her title at the Rothesay Open to begin the grass swing on a positive note. The Brit's gameplay has improved a lot in the past year, and she usually thrives during this time of the season.
Ostapenko's go-big-or-go-home approach doesn't always work but when it does, she's quite unstoppable, unleashing winners from all corners of the court. She loves playing in Eastbourne, and while Boulter's a tough nut to crack, the Latvian's record here tilts the contest in her favor.
Pick: Jelena Ostapenko to win in three sets.