🎾 WTA Madrid R1: Aliaksandra Sasnovich vs Ann Li

🎾 WTA Madrid R1: Aliaksandra Sasnovich vs Ann Li – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

🇧🇾 Aliaksandra Sasnovich

• 🔥 Clay court comfort: 5–2 on clay in 2025, with recent qualifying wins over Bjorklund and Grant in Madrid.
• 📈 Building momentum: Quarterfinal run in Stuttgart with wins over Mertens and Andreeva shows strong form.
• 📍 Madrid history: Best result is R2 (2023), but arrives in better shape than in past years.
• ⚔️ Season tested: Battled through tough draws in Miami and Rouen, regaining rhythm and consistency.

🇺🇸 Ann Li

• 🌱 Madrid debut: First main draw appearance at this event; unfamiliar with altitude clay conditions.
• 📉 Inconsistent results: Wins over Alexandrova and Blinkova, but recent losses to Townsend, Begu, and Mertens expose fragility.
• 🧱 Clay woes: Career win rate under 30% on clay and a 1–1 mark on the surface in 2025.
• 🧳 Euro-tour struggles: Yet to string together main draw wins on European soil this season.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Sasnovich enters this clash with all the momentum and comfort on clay. She's adapted well to Madrid’s high-altitude clay, using her experience and all-court game to grind out wins in qualifying. Her consistency and ability to redirect pace will likely neutralize Li’s flatter shotmaking.

Ann Li has shown flashes of aggressive brilliance, but her record on clay is a concern. She needs to dominate rallies early to avoid getting drawn into extended exchanges, where Sasnovich has the edge in shot tolerance and court IQ.

Unless Li redlines her forehand and lands a high first-serve percentage, Sasnovich’s rhythm and rally strength should carry her through.

🔮 Prediction

✅ Winner: Sasnovich in straight sets

Expect Li to have moments, especially early, but Sasnovich’s clay-court pedigree and current form should prove decisive.