The 2025 Monterrey final was shaped by two contrasting journeys
Ekaterina Alexandrova and Diana Shnaider battled through the draw to earn their spots in Sunday’s title clash.
Second seed Alexandrova advanced with authority, playing clean, efficient tennis throughout the week. She opened with a straight-sets win over Ajla Tomljanovic, edged past Linda Noskova in a tight three-setter, and moved into the final after Marie Bouzkova was forced to retire mid-match. Her strong serving and sharp ball-striking made her one of the most composed performers of the tournament.
Shnaider, meanwhile, endured a far more dramatic route. She dug deep to win back-to-back three-set thrillers—first against Elise Mertens in the quarters, and against Kamilla Rakhimova earlier in the week. In the semifinals, she held her nerve to defeat Alycia Parks in straight sets, saving all six break points she faced and showing off her resilience in pressure moments.
One entered with experience, the other with renewed momentum. But both players earned their place in the final with grit, consistency, and undeniable quality.
Shnaider strikes early and protects her lead to take first set
Diana Shnaider started the 2025 Monterrey final sharp with a love hold and quickly piled pressure on Ekaterina Alexandrova’s first service game, holding a break point before Alexandrova battled through to level at 1–1.
The key moment came at 3–1, where Shnaider broke on her third opportunity of the match. From there, her lefty serve proved unshakeable—two love holds and a clutch hold to close—while Alexandrova could not threaten until the final game. Even then, Shnaider fended off a break point to seal the opener 6–3 with authority.
Shnaider vs Alexandrova – Set 1 Stats
| Statistic | Shnaider | Alexandrova |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 2.12 | 0.47 |
| Serve Rating | 338 | 242 |
| Aces | 2 | 4 |
| Double Faults | 0 | 4 |
| 1st Serve % | 65% (17/26) | 67% (18/27) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 71% (12/17) | 78% (14/18) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 100% (8/8) | 22% (2/9) |
| Break Points Saved | 100% (1/1) | 50% (1/2) |
| Service Games | 100% (5/5) | 75% (3/4) |
| Ace % | 7.7% | 14.8% |
| Double Fault % | 0% | 14.8% |
| Return Rating | 175 | 29 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 22% (4/18) | 29% (5/17) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 78% (7/9) | 0% (0/8) |
| Break Points Won | 50% (1/2) | 0% (0/1) |
| Return Games | 25% (1/4) | 0% (0/5) |
| Pressure Points | 67% (2/3) | 33% (1/3) |
| Service Points | 81% (21/26) | 59% (16/27) |
| Return Points | 41% (11/27) | 19% (5/26) |
| Total Points | 60% (32/53) | 40% (21/53) |
| Max Points In A Row | 6 | 4 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Service Games | 100% (5/5) | 75% (3/4) |
| Return Games | 25% (1/4) | 0% (0/5) |
| Total Games | 67% (6/9) | 33% (3/9) |
| Max Games In A Row | 3 | 1 |
| Injury Timeouts | 0 | 0 |
| Set Duration | 33m | |
Alexandrova Survives Shnaider’s Charge to Level the Battle
Diana Shnaider looked poised to run away with the set when she stormed to a 2–0 lead, breaking to love and consolidating with ease. But Ekaterina Alexandrova steadied under pressure, saving break points and breaking back for 2–2 to halt Shnaider’s early charge.
The set swung back and forth from there. Shnaider surged ahead again at 4–3, only to surrender her advantage immediately as Alexandrova broke straight back. That response proved decisive: Alexandrova held for 5–4 and, in the next game, pressed relentlessly on return. She carved out three set points on Shnaider’s serve and converted the third to close the set 6–4.
Shnaider was a game away from tightening her grip on the match, but Alexandrova’s resilience at critical moments flipped the script. With five breaks of serve and momentum swinging throughout, Alexandrova’s late push forced the contest into a deciding set. The Mexican fans loved it.
Shnaider vs Alexandrova – Set 2 Stats
| Statistic | Shnaider | Alexandrova |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.95 | 1.06 |
| Serve Rating | 209 | 209 |
| Aces | 3 | 3 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 5 |
| 1st Serve % | 69% (27/39) | 45% (15/33) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 56% (15/27) | 67% (10/15) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 42% (5/12) | 39% (7/18) |
| Break Points Saved | 57% (4/7) | 0% (0/2) |
| Service Games | 40% (2/5) | 60% (3/5) |
| Ace % | 7.7% | 9.1% |
| Double Fault % | 2.6% | 15.2% |
| Return Rating | 234 | 205 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 33% (5/15) | 44% (12/27) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 61% (11/18) | 58% (7/12) |
| Break Points Won | 100% (2/2) | 43% (3/7) |
| Return Games | 40% (2/5) | 60% (3/5) |
| Pressure Points | 67% (6/9) | 33% (3/9) |
| Service Points | 49% (19/39) | 52% (17/33) |
| Return Points | 48% (16/33) | 51% (20/39) |
| Total Points | 49% (35/72) | 51% (37/72) |
| Max Points In A Row | 5 | 4 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Service Games | 40% (2/5) | 60% (3/5) |
| Return Games | 40% (2/5) | 60% (3/5) |
| Total Games | 40% (4/10) | 60% (6/10) |
| Max Games In A Row | 2 | 3 |
| Set 2 Duration | 0h 52m | |
Alexandrova Sees Shnaider Run Away with One Break and Never Look Back
Diana Shnaider landed the first blow in the decider, breaking Ekaterina Alexandrova to love before digging deep to save two break points in a tense hold for 2–0. That early escape proved vital, as it gave her the breathing space to stay in front.
Alexandrova steadied her serve and battled through a long deuce game to get on the board, but Shnaider answered with firm holds of her own. At 3–2, the Russian left-hander again showed composure, turning a tight game her way to keep the advantage.
When Shnaider moved up 5–3, Alexandrova forced her to serve it out, but the match had long since tilted in Shnaider’s favor. She powered through her final service game, racing to triple match point and finishing 6–4 to seal the victory.
The pattern of the set was clear: Shnaider’s early break set the tone, her resilience in saving break points consolidated her control, and her clean serving at the finish ensured Alexandrova never found a way back. It was a fitting close to a performance that earned her a fifth title in as many finals.
Shnaider vs Alexandrova – Set 3 Stats
| Statistic | Shnaider | Alexandrova |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.33 | 0.75 |
| Serve Rating | 292 | 243 |
| Aces | 2 | 0 |
| Double Faults | 2 | 0 |
| 1st Serve % | 74% (23/31) | 63% (22/35) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 74% (17/23) | 77% (17/22) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 44% (4/9) | 23% (3/13) |
| Break Points Saved | 100% (2/2) | 67% (2/3) |
| Service Games | 100% (5/5) | 80% (4/5) |
| Ace % | 6.5% | 0% |
| Double Fault % | 6.5% | 0% |
| Return Rating | 153 | 82 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 23% (5/22) | 26% (6/23) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 77% (10/13) | 56% (5/9) |
| Break Points Won | 33% (1/3) | 0% (0/2) |
| Return Games | 20% (1/5) | 0% (0/5) |
| Pressure Points | 60% (3/5) | 40% (2/5) |
| Service Points | 68% (21/31) | 57% (20/35) |
| Return Points | 43% (15/35) | 32% (10/31) |
| Total Points | 55% (36/66) | 45% (30/66) |
| Max Points In A Row | 6 | 6 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 1 |
| Service Games | 100% (5/5) | 80% (4/5) |
| Return Games | 20% (1/5) | 0% (0/5) |
| Total Games | 60% (6/10) | 40% (4/10) |
| Max Games In A Row | 2 | 1 |
| Deciding Set Duration | 0h 46m | |
Buzzing towards the US Open
For Shnaider, a fifth title in as many finals reinforces her growing reputation as one of the most reliable closers on tour. For Alexandrova, the sting of letting another final slip will sharpen her focus, but she showed enough resistance to suggest she remains dangerous. Both now pivot toward New York, where fate has placed them in the same pre-quarter bracket as… Iga Swiatek.
The Monterrey final was the proving ground. With Diana Shnaider and Ekaterina Alexandrova drawn into Iga Swiatek’s section at the US Open, Mexico was never a detour — it was the place where statements had to be made. Shnaider made hers emphatically, stretching her perfect record in finals to five, showing she can impose herself and close. Alexandrova came close but left with regrets, knowing that in New York the margins will tighten even further. Monterrey set the tone; the US Open will decide the consequence.