Kamilla Rakhimova is the eighth seed in Seoul at No. 76 in the world, and Katie Volynets is exactly the opponent she does not want in the second round of a WTA 250.
This is a matchup of two players who win the same way. Both are comfortable in rallies past ten shots, both defend the corners well, and neither has a weapon that reliably ends points on a hard court that plays as slow as the Olympic Park Tennis Center does. That combination produces long sets and a lot of returns of serve.
Rakhimova has the marginally better serve and a heavier forehand when she steps into the court, which is the small edge that should decide it. Her seeding also reflects a more consistent season at tour level, where Volynets has spent more time in qualifying and at the 125 tier.
Volynets is stubborn enough to turn this into a war of attrition, and she has beaten better-ranked players by simply refusing to miss. Outdoor conditions in Seoul help her more than they help Rakhimova, because the slower bounce blunts pace.
Rakhimova in three, over two hours.