This recap covers the opening round of the 2025 China Open, focusing on the quarter anchored by Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff. Both headline names advanced with byes, but the rest of the section delivered no shortage of drama and quality tennis.
Byes for the Stars, Action Everywhere Else
Rybakina (KAZ), Elise Mertens (BEL), Jelena Ostapenko (LAT), Leylah Fernandez (CAN), Jovic (USA) and Gauff (USA) all enjoyed smooth passage into round two thanks to byes. Their challengers, meanwhile, were busy setting the tone for what looks like a fiercely contested quarter.
Caty McNally (USA) brushed aside Laura Siegemund (GER) 6-4, 6-2. She will face Elena Rybakina next. Eva Lys (GER) was ruthless in a 6-1, 6-0 rout of Zhang Rui (CHN). Her next opponent will be America’s teenager Iva Jovic. Maria Mateas Kessler (USA) survived a tighter battle, edging Shi Han (CHN) 6-2, 7-6(5). Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) looked assured as she handled Anna Blinkova (RUS) 6-2, 6-2. Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) also advanced without taking the court, courtesy of a bye.
Three-Set Survival Stories
The bottom half of the quarter brought several grinding contests. Katie Volynets (USA) wore down compatriot Peyton Stearns (USA) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in a physical baseline battle.
Priscilla Hon (AUS) mounted a comeback against Viktorija Golubic (SUI), overturning a heavy opening-set loss to claim a 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) victory.
Kamilla Rakhimova (RUS) proved too strong for Lucia Bronzetti (ITA), advancing 6-4, 6-1.
Sakkari v Krueger: Match of the Day
Maria Sakkari (GRE) survived one of the matches of the day, edging Ashlyn Krueger (USA) 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 7-5 in a three-and-a-half-hour test.
Sakkari’s numbers told the story of her resilience. She won 51% of the total points (140 of 275) and saved 10 of 17 break points faced. Her second serve proved decisive, winning 51% compared to Krueger’s 36%. Although Krueger fired seven aces to Sakkari’s two, the Greek star kept her double faults under control and maintained pressure on return, converting eight breaks of serve. The battle stretched to 3 hours and 32 minutes, with both players locked in long rallies, but Sakkari’s steadier baseline play and composure in pressure moments carried her through.
Krueger vs Sakkari – Full Match Stats
| Statistic | Krueger | Sakkari |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.96 | 1.04 |
| Serve Rating | 210 | 224 |
| Aces | 7 | 2 |
| Double Faults | 12 | 6 |
| 1st Serve % | 65% (91/140) | 62% (84/135) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 58% (53/91) | 54% (45/84) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 36% (17/47) | 51% (26/51) |
| Break Points Saved | 53% (9/17) | 59% (10/17) |
| Service Games | 56% (10/18) | 61% (11/18) |
| Ace % | 5% | 1.5% |
| Double Fault % | 8.6% | 4.4% |
| Return Rating | 175 | 197 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 46% (39/84) | 42% (38/91) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 49% (25/51) | 64% (30/47) |
| Break Points Won | 41% (7/17) | 47% (8/17) |
| Return Games | 39% (7/18) | 44% (8/18) |
| Pressure Points | 47% (16/34) | 53% (18/34) |
| Service Points | 51% (71/140) | 53% (71/135) |
| Return Points | 47% (64/135) | 49% (69/140) |
| Total Points | 49% (135/275) | 51% (140/275) |
| Match Points Saved | 1 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 8 | 9 |
| Service Games | 56% (10/18) | 61% (11/18) |
| Return Games | 39% (7/18) | 44% (8/18) |
| Total Games | 47% (17/36) | 53% (19/36) |
| Max Games In A Row | 4 | 4 |
| Match Duration | 3h 32m | |
Gauff (USA) moved forward via her first-round bye, now set to open her campaign against Maria Sakkari already battle-tested.
What We Learned From Gauff’s Section
- Krejcikova and Lys looked clinical.
- McNally, Volynets, and Sakkari showed grit in the clutch.
- Rybakina will play America’s McNally next, while Coco Gauff faces Maria Sakkari.
With Rybakina, Jovic, Alexandrova and Gauff entering the mix, expect intensity levels to rise as round two gets underway.