Ekaterina Alexandrova’s current form and ranking position her as the favored player against Yue Yuan.
Match Overview
Fourth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova is set to face wild card Yue Yuan in the second round of the Ningbo Open 2025. Alexandrova, one of the tournament’s top seeds, had a first-round bye, whereas Yuan advanced after defeating Xinyu Wang in straight sets. Alexandrova is enjoying a remarkable season, currently ranked a career-high world No. 10, with fourth-round showings at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open, despite two withdrawals due to wrist concerns.
Recent Performances
This year, Alexandrova claimed the Linz title by beating Dayana Yastremska in three sets and reached the finals in Monterrey and Seoul, losing to Diana Shnaider and Iga Swiatek, respectively. She also made it to the semifinals in Doha, Charleston, and Stuttgart and reached the quarterfinals in Libema, Bad Homburg, and Hamburg. Within 66 matches this season, she has delivered 296 aces, converting 69.4% of her first serves, 45.7% of return points, and 46.7% of break points.
Yue Yuan’s Season
In contrast, Yue Yuan has had a more modest singles season but found success in doubles, winning the Austin title with Anna Blinkova. Her best singles performance was reaching the quarterfinals at Libema, followed by a disappointing loss to Elise Mertens, along with a third-round appearance in Cincinnati. However, her season has largely been marked by inconsistency, with frequent early exits. She withdrew from the WTA 125 events in Saint-Malo, Nottingham, and Montreal due to minor physical ailments. Over 25 matches this year, she has recorded 59 aces and has a 62.4% win rate on first serves, along with a 40.8% return point conversion and a 41.5% break point success rate.
Head-to-Head Record
In their previous encounter, Ekaterina Alexandrova holds a 1-0 lead over Yue Yuan, having defeated her in straight sets last year during the Monterrey quarterfinals.
Match Prediction
With Alexandrova’s impressive season and her experience in high-stakes matches, she has a significant advantage over Yuan. The Russian’s strong serve and aggressive baseline game are likely to challenge Yuan, who has struggled with consistency in singles play.
Betting Odds
According to betting lines, Ekaterina Alexandrova is the clear favorite at -390, while Yue Yuan is positioned at +290. These odds reflect Alexandrova’s consistent performances and her established head-to-head advantage, placing Yuan as the underdog with limited chances for an upset.
