The ASB Classic 2026 in Auckland is heating up as the women’s singles draw barrels into its Round of 16, and the tournament’s hard courts have already seen their fair share of drama, upsets, and rising stars eager to make their mark. With the second round wrapping up on January 8, fans are glued to the action as seasoned campaigners and ambitious newcomers clash for a coveted spot in the quarterfinals.
One of the most talked-about matchups features Britain’s Sonay Kartal, ranked 68th in the world, taking on Germany’s Ella Seidel, ranked 84th. Both players have shown impressive form over the past year, and their impending duel is a first-time encounter at this level. Kartal, who comes into the match as the favorite with odds set at -300, is looking to build on her recent momentum after upsetting sixth seed Janice Tjen in a grueling three-setter, 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-3, in the opening round. Seidel, on the other hand, cruised past Monique Barry 6-2, 6-1 in her first-round match, showcasing her composure and aggressive baseline play.
Both Kartal and Seidel had breakout seasons in 2025. Kartal made headlines with her run to the fourth round at Wimbledon and a quarterfinal appearance at the China Open, a WTA 1000 event. Seidel reached the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open, another top-tier tournament, and has notched a 22-8 record on hard courts over the past year. Kartal’s own hard-court record stands at 12-10 across nine tournaments, with a 71.8% service game win rate and a 48.5% break point win percentage—slightly edging Seidel’s 46.6% in that department.
Statistically, the matchup is tantalizingly close. Seidel has won 71.7% of her service games and 36.1% of return games on hard surfaces in the last 12 months, while Kartal is right there with a 71.8% service win rate and a 34.3% return win rate. Both players are known for their aggressive baseline games, but Kartal’s disruptive style and slight edge in break point conversion might just tip the scales. According to pre-match analysis, “Kartal seems a step ahead of Seidel in terms of career progression, which makes her the slight favorite to win this contest.”
Yet, Seidel’s resilience can’t be overlooked. Despite being eliminated by Tamara Korpatsch in the Round of 16 at the Jiangxi Open in October 2025, the German’s ability to save break points and maintain composure under pressure has turned heads. Her 35-19 record on hard courts over the last four years underlines her consistency on this surface, even if she’s never played in the ASB Classic before. This will be the first main tour meeting between Kartal and Seidel, adding an extra layer of intrigue to their clash.
Meanwhile, the top half of the draw is equally stacked. Elina Svitolina, the tournament’s top seed and a former ASB Classic finalist, breezed through her opener against Varvara Gracheva 6-3, 6-1. Svitolina, who reached the quarterfinals in Montreal last year but stumbled in the early rounds of Cincinnati and the US Open, is looking to reassert her dominance after taking a break following the Billie Jean King Cup and returning for the World Tennis League in December. Her next opponent? Britain’s Katie Boulter, who advanced after dispatching Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 6-3 in her opening match.
Boulter’s journey to the second round was marked by a confident start and the ability to hold her nerve, even after dropping her serve once in the first set. She’s no stranger to aggressive play, but Svitolina’s renowned defense and experience could prove the difference. The Ukrainian holds a head-to-head lead over Boulter, having beaten her in straight sets at the Australian Open 2020. Although Boulter’s form dipped last year, even seeing her drop outside the top 100, she’s demonstrated she has the game to trouble top players—if she can find consistency and capitalize on her break point opportunities.
As the tournament progresses, other notable names have already secured their spots in the quarterfinals. Third seed Iva Jovic booked her ticket with a hard-fought 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Sara Bejlek, while seventh seed Wang Xinyu, Sofia Costoulas, and Francesca Jones have also advanced. Magda Linette, who battled past Venus Williams in three sets in her opener, is set to face Elisabetta Cocciaretto, with many tipping the Pole for a deep run given her recent form.
Looking ahead, the tournament draw suggests more intriguing matchups. Should Kartal advance past Seidel, she could face Svitolina in the quarterfinals—a rematch that would pit Kartal’s disruptive style against the Ukrainian’s all-court prowess. Their only previous meeting saw Svitolina come out on top, but they have never played each other on hard courts in a major tournament. Alternatively, Boulter could set up a showdown with Kartal, a matchup that historically favors the Brit with a 2-0 head-to-head record.
In terms of tournament odds, Kartal is considered one of the leading contenders with +550 to win the event, while Seidel sits at +2000. The betting lines reflect Kartal’s slight statistical edge and recent results, but as any tennis fan knows, the margins are razor-thin at this level—and one hot streak or a few clutch points can swing a match dramatically.
As Thursday’s matches get underway, the ASB Classic continues to deliver high-octane tennis and storylines galore. Whether it’s the resurgence of established stars like Svitolina, the breakout performances of young guns like Kartal and Seidel, or the ever-present potential for upsets, Auckland’s hard courts are proving a fitting stage for the sport’s next generation to shine. With so much at stake and every match offering a new twist, fans can expect the action to stay red-hot as the tournament barrels toward its decisive stages.
The outcome of Kartal versus Seidel remains up in the air as play unfolds, but one thing’s for certain: the ASB Classic 2026 is serving up tennis at its finest, and the best may yet be to come.
