Big-serving Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova cruised into the Libema Open quarterfinals courtesy of a 6-0, 7-5 win over Anna Blinkova. She hasn’t dropped a set this week, improving to 13-4 since the start of the clay-court campaign.
2025 WTA Tour
WTA 500/ WTA 250
HSBC Championships (Queens), Libema Open
Selected Quarterfinals- 13th June
WTA 250- Libema Open
Ekaterina Alexandrova (2) 0.44 vs Veronika Kudermetova 1.75
Alexandrova is a flat-hitting baseliner who tends to thrive on quicker surfaces (as evidenced by her Linz Open victory earlier this year). But she defied expectations on the clay, reaching back-to-back semifinals in Charleston and Stuttgart prior to a 4th round run at Roland Garros. Alexandrova’s big-hitting style has translated to success here in the past (she won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023). She missed last year’s Wimbledon Championships but did reach the 4th round back in 2023. She has served 14 aces already this week and will lean on that weapon as she aims to power towards a 3rd Rosmalen title.
Alexandrova will face fellow Russian big-hitter Veronika Kudermetova for a place in the semifinals. Veronika Kudermetova has endured a torrid time these past few seasons, going from No.9 in the world to hovering just inside the top 50. She has shown some glimpses of her best tennis this season, reaching the 4th round of the Aussie Open and the 3rd round at the French. She flirted with decent form during the entire clay-court campaign and will be hoping that the move to grass will unlock her potential. She has cruised this week, yet to drop a set in her first two matches. She just brought Greet Minnen’s six-match winning streak to an end with an emphatic 6-4, 6-1 win (she won 81% of her first-serve points). Kudermetova lost to Alexandrova in the final here back in 2023 and will be looking for a measure of vengeance this week.
The Verdict: Alexandrova to win in straight sets at 1.01– Alexandrova leads the head-to-head 4-3, winning in straight sets at the recent French Open. Moreover, Alexandrova leads their grass-court rivalry 2-0, triumphing in an epic three-set final here back in 2023. I think that Alexandrova’s recent form points towards an easy win. She showed some versatility on the clay, and I think she will force the one-dimensional Kudermetova into a plethora of errors.
