Two-time Grand Slam champ Barbora Krejcikova got off to an impressive start in her Korea Open campaign, disposing of Russian qualifier Tatiana Prozorova 6-1, 6-2.
2025 WTA Tour
WTA 500 Korea Open
Korea Open
Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Centre, Seoul, South Korea (Outdoor Hardcourt)
Selected Round of 16 Matches- 18th September
Barborka Krejcikova vs Emma Radacanu
She dominated from start to finish, winning 82% of her first-serve points. The versatile Czech missed the first four months of the season due to a back injury, making her 2025 debut in Strasbourg. She struggled in the only months of her reintroduction to tour action (which was amplified by a thigh issue that she picked up during the grass-court swing). But she started to pick up some real momentum in the lead-in to the US Open, reaching the final 16 in Cincinnati. She then came through trumps once again at Grand Slam level, exceeding expectations with a solid quarterfinal run at Flushing Meadows. She looks close to her physical best, mixing up aggression with excellent counterpunching.
Current British No.1 Emma Radacanu looked compact in her Korea Open opener, staying patient amidst the weather delays to triumph 6-3, 6-4 over Jacqueline Cristian. The elegant Brit is looking to bounce back after a humbling 3rd round US Open defeat to Rybakina (where many thought she was due an upset win). Still, Radacanu has enjoyed a vastly improved campaign, up to 27-18 for the season with the win over Cristian. She has made some decent strides this year, reaching a maiden WTA 1000 quarterfinal in Miami while winning three successive tour-level clay-court matches for the first time in Rome. She reached her first semifinal of the season in Washington and has challenged Sabalenka in hotly contested meetings at Wimbledon and Cincinnati. Radacanu will be looking for a positive end to the season as she aims to be seeded at next year’s Aussie Open.
The Verdict: Krejcikova to win in straight sets at – This will be their first career meeting. Radacanu will look to dominate the Czech with her flat, heavy groundstrokes. Krejcikova will probably be a bit cagier as she figures out her new opponent. I expect her to perhaps adopt a more counterattacking style against Radacanu (who can be slightly one-dimensional). The Czech’s excellent ability at the net could force Radacanu to go for too much on her passing shots.
Daria Kasatkina (4) 0.75 vs Katerina Siniakova 1.05
4th seed Daria Kasatkina received a bye in the first round and opens up her Korea Open account against Czech doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova. 28-year-old Kasatkina enjoyed an excellent, consistency 2024 campaign, reaching six finals and winning two titles (including a runner-up finish in this event). She has really struggled to gain any traction this season, perhaps slightly distracted by her switch in national allegiance (she converted from Russian to Australian near the start of the year). She has only reached one quarterfinal all year and will be desperate for some momentum as she looks to build towards next season. She has performed decently in the slams this year, reaching the 3rd or 4th round in all four majors. She did look spritelier in her most recent outing at the US Open, pushing eventual semifinalist Naomi Osaka to three sets in the 3rd round. But this is exactly the sort of tournament that used to be her bread and butter.
29-year-old Czech Katerina Siniakova is one of the most celebrated double’s players in the history of the game, picking up her 10th Grand Slam double’s title at this year’s Australian Open. A five-time WTA single’s champ, you get the feeling that Siniakova has sacrificed single’s success on the altar of double’s brilliance (and it has paid dividends). She looked completely untroubled in her opening round tie, defeating Soyhun Park 6-2, 6-2. She was absolutely devastating on her own delivery, winning 82% of her first-serve points to make it three consecutive victories (including qualifying). As I have already alluded to, Siniakova isn’t the most consistent singles practitioner out there. But she does possess an excellent record in Asia, reaching five of her ten singles finals on the continent. In fact, she won her last singles title at the 2023 Jiangxi Open.
The Verdict: Kasatkina to win in three sets at 3.5– Kasatkina has dominated Siniakova, leading the Czech 6-1 in their head-to-head meetings. This could be Siniakova’s chance to bring some respectability to this rivalry. Kasatkina is in poor form and lacks last season’s confidence. I still think that Kasatkina’s greater variety should see her through in three. She started to show signs of her best tennis in New York, incorporating drop-shots and one-handed slices to solid effect.
