The defending champion faces Samsonova in the Wuhan Open Third Round.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka is set to face 16th seed Liudmila Samsonova in the third round of the Wuhan Open 2025. Both players received opening-round byes and rallied from a set down in their respective second-round matches, with Sabalenka overcoming Rebecca Sramkova, while Samsonova edged Sofia Kenin.
The defending champion has been a dominant force this season, capturing titles in Brisbane, Miami, Madrid, and most recently, the US Open, marking her fourth Grand Slam crown. Sabalenka has also reached finals in Melbourne, Indian Wells, Stuttgart, and Roland Garros, with semifinal showings in Berlin and Wimbledon and quarterfinal runs in Rome and Cincinnati. Her only early exits came in Doha and Dubai. In 66 matches this year, she’s fired 242 aces, winning 68.6% of first-serve points and converting 47.3% of break points.
Samsonova, meanwhile, has enjoyed a steady yet uneven season. She opened with a semifinal in Adelaide, where a foot injury forced her to retire against eventual champion Madison Keys. Her standout result came in Strasbourg, reaching the final before falling to Elena Rybakina in three sets. The Russian also made a semifinal in Berlin and quarterfinal runs in Indian Wells, Wimbledon, and most recently at Tennis in the Land. Across 49 matches, she’s struck 183 aces, winning 69.2% of first-serve points and converting 44.7% of break points.
Aryna Sabalenka holds a narrow 3-2 edge in her head-to-head against Liudmila Samsonova. Their rivalry began in 2022 at Guadalajara, where Samsonova edged the Belarusian in three tight sets. Sabalenka returned the favor early the following season in Adelaide, clinching a straight-sets victory decided by tiebreaks. The Russian struck back later that year in Montreal, but since then, Sabalenka has tightened her grip on the matchup, winning their last two encounters, including the most recent in Cincinnati.
| Year | Event | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Indian Wells | Quarterfinals | Aryna Sabalenka | 6-2, 6-3 |
| 2024 | Cincinnati | Quarterfinals | Aryna Sabalenka | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2023 | Montreal | Round of 16 | Liudmila Samsonova | 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-3 |
| 2023 | Adelaide #1 | Round of 16 | Aryna Sabalenka | 7-6(8), 7-6(3) |
| 2022 | Guadalajara | Round of 32 | Liudmila Samsonova | 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 |
| Aryna Sabalenka | Category | Liudmila Samsonova |
| 1 | Current Ranking | 20 |
| 472-198 | Career W-L | 332-216 |
| 56-10 | YTD W-L | 27-21 |
| 21 | Career Titles | 5 |
| 4 | Grand Slams | 0 |
| 4 | YTD Titles | 0 |
Samsonova’s power game could trouble Sabalenka early, especially if her first serve clicks, but the top seed’s momentum and mental edge should tilt the match her way in two tight sets.
Prediction: Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets
Sabalenka (-600) enters as the clear favorite, backed by dominant serving stats and recent head-to-head wins. Samsonova (+410) has the weapons to test her but lacks the consistency to close out Sabalenka in straight sets.
Here are the betting odds according to FanDuel:
Aryna Sabalenka: -600
Liudmila Samsonova: +410
Here are the odds for total games as well as total sets for both players (sourced via FanDuel):
Total Sets Under 2.5: -275
Total Sets Over 2.5: +187
Total Games Under 20.5: -138
Total Games Over 20.5: +100
Set 1 Winner Sabalenka: -320
Set 1 Winner Samsonova: +225
(According to FanDuel: FanDuel offers exclusive promo codes, bonus deals and accurate odds for users upon signing up. Use FanDuel to ace your betting game in all sports!)
Mandatory Image Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
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