🎾 WTA Madrid: Amanda Anisimova vs Peyton Stearns

🎾 WTA Madrid: Amanda Anisimova vs Peyton Stearns

🧠 Form & Context

Amanda Anisimova
🇺🇸 The resurgence is real. After falling outside the top 400 due to injury and burnout, Anisimova has stormed back in 2025 with a title in Doha, a finalist showing in Toronto, and a semifinal in Charleston—her best clay performance since 2022. She’s back inside the top 20 and brimming with confidence. While she’s had mixed results in Madrid overall, she did reach the quarterfinals here in 2022, taking out Azarenka and Sabalenka en route.

Peyton Stearns
🇺🇸 Stearns is still trying to find her rhythm this season, with only one match win in her last four events entering Madrid. She did grind out a three-set win over Kimberly Birrell in R1, notching her first Caja Mágica victory. While she has a solid clay-court resume in non-European events (Rabat champion, Bogotá finalist), she has yet to translate that into European red clay success.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Anisimova’s heavy groundstrokes, particularly her lethal backhand, will benefit from Madrid’s fast clay. The altitude shortens points and rewards early ball-strikers—exactly her wheelhouse. She's also shown sharper focus and fitness this season, giving her a strong edge in extended rallies.

Stearns brings grit and a strong forehand, but her timing and consistency on this surface remain unproven at the top level. If she’s forced to defend too much or can’t extend points into longer patterns, she’ll likely be overwhelmed by Anisimova’s pace and aggression.

• Key matchup: Anisimova’s return vs Stearns’ second serve
• Baseline battle: Both players like to dictate; who strikes first more effectively?
• Surface impact: Madrid’s speed tilts the dynamic toward Anisimova’s flatter shots

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Anisimova in straight sets
Stearns has the tools to make this competitive, but Anisimova’s form, firepower, and altitude-boosted game give her the edge. Expect a close first set before Anisimova pulls away with superior shot-making and mental composure.

🎾 WTA Madrid R1: Moyuka Uchijima vs Robin Montgomery

🎾 WTA Madrid R1: Moyuka Uchijima vs Robin Montgomery – Altitude Clay Test

🧠 Form & Context

Moyuka Uchijima

• 🎾 Clay acclimated: Comes in battle-tested after reaching the QF in Rouen, where she played three physically demanding three-set matches.
• 🏆 Madrid familiarity: Won the W100 Madrid title here in 2024 and beat Montgomery during that run—knows the conditions well.
• 📈 Career lift: That quarterfinal showing in Rouen was her first tour-level QF since 2022 and her most promising sign of form in over a year.

Robin Montgomery

• 🩺 Returning from injury: Missed significant time after the Australian Open but has played herself back into rhythm with respectable results in March and April.
• 🚀 Ceiling glimpsed: Made the SF in Auckland earlier this season—her best result to date at WTA level.
• 📍 Madrid memory: Reached R3 in 2024 and took a set off Sabalenka, proving she can compete here with her explosive game.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Uchijima is in a groove on clay, combining clean movement with tactical discipline—perfect traits for this surface. She’s already familiar with Madrid’s bounce and rhythm and carries a head-to-head win over Montgomery from this very venue.

Montgomery will rely on her serve and forehand to break through Uchijima’s defenses. She’s dangerous when dictating, especially in altitude, but clay limits her movement advantage and forces her into longer rallies—an area where Uchijima excels.

If Montgomery comes out firing and keeps points short, she can steal the early momentum. But Uchijima’s comfort on the surface and superior rally tolerance could be the deciding factors over the course of a three-set battle.

🔮 Prediction

✅ Winner: Moyuka Uchijima in 3 sets

Montgomery will hit through patches of dominance, but Uchijima’s steadiness and clay-court IQ give her the edge in this high-potential opening round clash.

🎾 WTA Madrid R1: Veronika Kudermetova vs Polina Kudermetova

🎾 WTA Madrid R1: Veronika Kudermetova vs Polina Kudermetova – Sister Showdown at the Caja Mágica

🧠 Form & Context

Veronika Kudermetova

• 🎢 Recent rollercoaster: Semifinalist here in 2023 with four consecutive three-set wins, but her 2025 has been riddled with inconsistency since the Australian Open.
• 📉 Post-Melbourne dip: Despite reaching the fourth round at AO, she’s failed to pass R2 in any event since February.
• 🏟️ Madrid pedigree: Holds a solid 9–4 career record here, including wins over Kasatkina and Pegula last year.

Polina Kudermetova

• 🚀 Rising rapidly: Stunned the tour in Brisbane by reaching the final as a qualifier. Also made the SF in Merida and 3R in Indian Wells.
• 🌱 Clay question mark: Just one clay match in 2025 (Charleston loss to Shnaider), and still adapting her aggressive style to the surface.
• 📍 Madrid debut: This is her first main draw appearance here—but she arrives with momentum and confidence.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This all-Kudermetova clash is loaded with storyline and contrast. Veronika has the experience, surface familiarity, and deep Madrid memories. She’s best when controlling rallies with her topspin-heavy forehand and solid backhand defense—and Madrid’s high altitude helps her serve gain extra bite.

Polina plays flatter and more aggressive, looking to end points early. She’s fearless in big moments, as shown during her Brisbane breakthrough. But with limited clay exposure this season and a debut in this environment, she’ll need to adapt quickly.

The wildcard here is emotion. Sibling matchups can either inspire peak performance or lead to tension. If Polina plays loose and Veronika continues her patchy form, the younger sister has upset potential.

🔮 Prediction

✅ Winner: Veronika Kudermetova in 3 sets

Expect a high-quality, hard-fought match. Veronika’s comfort in Madrid and experience in three-set battles should give her the edge—though Polina’s rise is undeniable.