The 2025 US Open is set for a high-stakes showdown as Marketa Vondrousova faces off against Elena Rybakina in the fourth round on Sunday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Both athletes are former Wimbledon champions, and this clash is drawing significant attention from fans and analysts alike.
Vondrousova, currently ranked No. 60 in the WTA rankings, was born in Sokolov, Czech Republic, and has been a fixture on the tour since her teenage years. She began playing tennis at the age of four, moved to Prague at 15 to pursue professional training, and is coached by Jan Hernych. After her Wimbledon triumph in 2023, Vondrousova has battled injuries but has shown resilience, recently capturing the Berlin Open title after a hard-fought three-set win over Wang Xinyu. Her victory over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals highlighted her tactical prowess and mental toughness.
In the current US Open, Vondrousova delivered an upset by defeating Cincinnati Open finalist Jasmine Paolini in the third round, showcasing her ability to rise in high-pressure situations. Her next challenge, however, is formidable: Elena Rybakina, seeded No. 9 and in stellar form this summer. Rybakina has reunited with her coach Stefano Vukov and reached consecutive semifinals at the Omnium Banque Nationale and Cincinnati Open. At Flushing Meadows, she has yet to drop a set, most notably overpowering 2021 champion Emma Raducanu with a decisive win in the third round (Marketa Vondrousova ESPN Profile).
Analyst Paul Annacone, former coach of Roger Federer, emphasized on Tennis.com that Rybakina’s serve is a critical weapon. She wins 92% of points when hitting her serve close to the lines, and even when off-target, she still secures nearly 64-65% of her service points. Moreover, Rybakina’s second serve is exceptionally effective, winning 55% of those points compared to the Top 10 average of 49%. These metrics present a unique challenge for Vondrousova, who will need to capitalize on rare opportunities to attack Rybakina’s serve.
On the other side, Prakash Amritraj highlighted Vondrousova’s intangible qualities and her impressive comeback from injury. Both experts agree that the match will be decided by who can seize the offensive and dictate play, as both players excel when on the attack rather than defense. Their head-to-head record is evenly split at 1-1, with Rybakina winning their last meeting on clay at the 2023 Internazionali BNL d’Italia, while Vondrousova went on to claim her Wimbledon title later that year.
With both players in strong form and motivated by recent successes, the Vondrousova vs. Rybakina clash is poised to be a highlight of the US Open’s Labor Day weekend. The winner will not only advance to the quarterfinals but could also gain crucial momentum for the remainder of the Grand Slam season. For fans and bettors alike, this matchup presents a fascinating case of power versus precision, experience versus resilience.
For more details on player stats and match history, visit the Marketa Vondrousova ESPN Profile and the official Tennis.com US Open preview.