WTA star Aryna Sabalenka is all set to make a comeback after her semifinal exit at Wimbledon. Having skipped the WTA 1000 event in Montreal, the Belarusian player will compete against the Czech star Markéta Vondroušová in her opening showdown at the Cincinnati Open. Sabalenka skipped the Canadian Open to rest after a gruelling Wimbledon semi-final exit, taking time off to recharge, even treating fans to glimpses of her relaxing beachside retreat.
She arrives in Cincinnati as the only hardcourt tournament before the US Open, aiming to defend her 3,000 ranking points and assert dominance at her favorite stop. Vondroušová, on the other hand, battled back from a shoulder injury earlier in the year. She also made a commendable return by clinching the Berlin Open title, where she stunned Sabalenka in the semifinals.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Markéta Vondroušová Match Details
Date: August 8, 2025
Tournament: Cincinnati Open
Round: Round of 64
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Outdoor hard
Live telecast: Tennis Channel, Fubo, ESPN+, Sky Sports
Aryna Sabalenka vs Marketa Vondrousova Head-to-Head
Sabalenka and Vondroušová faced each other eight times on the professional tour, with the head‑to‑head deadlocked at 4–4. Their most recent clash came in the semifinals of the Berlin Tennis Open on June 21, 2025, where Vondroušová emerged victorious with a 6–2, 6–4 win over the world No. 1.
The match lasted approximately one hour and twenty minutes, as Vondroušová executed powerful serving to limit unforced errors and close out the win.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Marketa Vondrousova Prediction
Sabalenka has played very well on hard courts this season, winning 23 of her 27 matches. She’s also strong on this surface overall, with a career record of 245 wins and 96 losses. On the other hand, Vondroušová has had a more average year on hard courts, winning 6 and losing five matches in 2025. This surface clearly suits Sabalenka better, giving her the edge heading into this match.
Sabalenka plays an aggressive game, using her powerful serve and groundstrokes to control points quickly. She often hits a lot of winners and puts her opponents under pressure. Vondroušová plays a very different style. She mixes up her shots, uses angles, and relies more on defense and smart placement than power. That works well on slower courts, but it can be less effective against someone like Sabalenka on a fast hard court.
Sabalenka’s serve is one of her biggest weapons. She averages over 3 aces per match and gets her first serve in almost 64% of the time in the ongoing season. She also doesn’t make too many double faults, and she’s good at converting break points. Vondroušová’s serve isn’t as strong. She’s better at returning, but her own service games can be vulnerable. Against a big hitter like Sabalenka, that could be a problem.
Sabalenka is the clear favorite for this match. She has the stronger record on hard courts, a more powerful game, and better serving numbers. Vondroušová may cause some problems with her variety, but Sabalenka’s strength and confidence should be enough to win in straight sets.
Prediction: Sabalenka to win in straight sets
