Alexandrova eyes semifinal spot as rising Seidel seeks another upset.
Second seed Ekaterina Alexandrova meets qualifier Ella Seidel in the Korea Open 2025 quarterfinals. Alexandrova advanced with a first-round bye and a gritty comeback win over Lois Boisson, while Seidel battled through qualifying before upsetting Jessika Ponchet and sixth seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in back-to-back three-setters.
For Alexandrova, the season has been uneven but still career-defining. The Russian hit a career-high No. 11 and lifted her fifth career title in Linz, edging Dayana Yastremska in three sets. She’s also made career-best fourth-round runs at Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and the US Open. Beyond that, semifinal finishes in Doha, Charleston, Stuttgart, and Libema, plus a final in Monterrey, have marked the highlights of an otherwise erratic year littered with early exits and injury withdrawals. Statistically, she’s one of the WTA’s cleanest ball-strikers, firing 266 aces, winning 69.2% of first-serve points, and converting 46.2% of her break points across 58 matches.
SUPERB TENNIS 🔥
— wta (@WTA) September 18, 2025
Ekaterina Alexandrova is making a comeback in the first set against Boisson.#KoreaOpen pic.twitter.com/eEQxOm6r5P
Seidel, meanwhile, has quietly built momentum in 2025. Just 10 days ago, she reached a career-high No. 101 after a breakthrough fourth-round run in Cincinnati, where she stunned Emma Navarro and McCartney Kessler before bowing out to Varvara Gracheva. Still only 20, the German has collected five ITF titles, made her WTA debut in 2023, and played her first Major last season. This year has brought quarterfinal runs in Warsaw and the Winners Open, along with a Wimbledon main draw debut cut short by an ankle injury. Across her 10 matches, she’s struck 32 aces, winning 65% of first-serve points, 38% on return, and converting 43.1% of break chances.
Ella Seidel – quarterfinalist! 🙌
— wta (@WTA) September 18, 2025
The 20-year-old with a dramatic comeback to defeat defending champion Haddad Maia 👏#KoreaOpen pic.twitter.com/6Vb4Uk4lVK
Ekaterina Alexandrova and Ella Seidel do not have a head-to-head yet.
| Ekaterina Alexandrova | Category | Ella Seidel |
| 11 | Current Ranking | 105 |
| 457-282 | Career W-L | 142-95 |
| 38-19 | YTD W-L | 34-23 |
| 5 | Career Titles | 0 |
| 0 | Grand Slams | 0 |
| 1 | YTD Titles | 0 |
Alexandrova’s firepower and top-15 ranking make her the clear frontrunner, yet Seidel has shown she can punch above her weight by upsetting seeded players. Still, the Russian’s consistency should see her through.
Comeback complete! 🙌
— wta (@WTA) September 18, 2025
Ekaterina Alexandrova overcomes Boisson 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in Seoul.#KoreaOpen pic.twitter.com/mD6YBbH3aI
Prediction: Ekaterina Alexandrova in straight sets
At -480, Alexandrova is the overwhelming favorite, reflecting her higher ranking, stronger serve metrics, and big-match experience. Seidel at +350 is a long-shot underdog. Her recent rise and Cincinnati breakthrough hint at potential, but the safe bet is Alexandrova advancing.
Here are the betting odds according to FanDuel:
Ekaterina Alexandrova: -480
Ella Seidel: +350
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 Game Over 19.5: -125
Total Games Under 19.5: -110
Alexandrova Set 1 Winner: -300
Seidel Set 1 Winner: +210
(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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mma I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.
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