Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini is set to face off against former Top 10 player Maria Sakkari in the second round of the 2025 Cincinnati Open, scheduled for August 10 at 1:00 PM EDT. This match presents an intriguing clash as both players navigate through challenging seasons.
Jasmine Paolini arrives at this tournament looking to regain her footing after sliding to ninth in the WTA rankings, primarily due to lost points from her recent performances, including a notable fourth-round exit at Wimbledon. Despite a challenging year—with six losses in the past two months—Paolini did have a strong showing last year in Cincinnati, reaching the round of 16 and ultimately achieving a quarterfinal appearance in 2023 as a qualifier.
On the other hand, Maria Sakkari comes into the match unseeded but with a notable history, having reached a career-high ranking of No. 3. Following a difficult 2024 season cut short by a shoulder injury, Sakkari has shown signs of resurgence during the 2025 hard-court swing, notably advancing to the quarterfinals in Washington. She also recently secured a win against Kamilla Rakhimova in Cincinnati, boosting her confidence heading into this matchup.
Historically, Sakkari leads their head-to-head encounters 2-1, with her victories occurring on clay, while Paolini managed a win in their only hard-court meeting during Dubai last year.
In terms of strategy, the odds favor Sakkari as an underdog, given her recent uptick in performance, and indicators suggest she is gradually overcoming the setbacks from her injury. Paolini’s recent struggles make this an intriguing matchup, and Sakkari is seen as a strong contender to pull off a victory, potentially in three sets.
As the tournament progresses, this match not only highlights individual resilience but also sets the stage for both players to showcase their skills and reclaim momentum on the hard-court circuit.