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Match Details
Fixture: (1) Madison Keys vs Jaqueline Cristian
Date: January 2, 2025
Tournament: ASB Classic 2025
Round: Second Round (Round of 16)
Venue: ASB Tennis Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
Category: WTA 250
Surface: Hardcourt (outdoor)
Prize Money: $275,094
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports
Madison Keys vs Jaqueline Cristian preview
Top seed Madison Keys will face Jaqueline Cristian in the second round of the ASB Classic 2025.
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Keys commenced her run in Auckland against World No. 73 Lucia Bronzetti. The two went toe-to-toe in the opening set, until the Italian crumbled under the pressure of serving to stay in the set. The American turned up the intensity while her opponent served at 5-4, and snagged a break of serve to take the set.
Bronzetti started the second set with a break of serve, only to drop her own serve in the next game. She struck once again, and held her serve after that to extend her lead to 3-1. However, Keys was quick to get back on track, and nabbed five of the next six games to score a 6-4, 6-4 win.
Cristian drew Yuliia Starodubtseva as her first-round opponent. The Romanian raced to a 5-1 lead in the opening set, only to falter while closing out the set. Her opponent went on a two-game run but she nipped her comeback in the bud, and served out the set on her second attempt.
Cristian went 2-0 up in the second set, and that's when the match came to an end. Starodubtseva couldn't continue after sustaining an injury, thus sending the Romanian into the next round.
Madison Keys vs Jaqueline Cristian head-to-head
Their rivalry is currently tied at 1-1. Cristian won their previous encounter at the Charleston Open 2024 in three sets.
Madison Keys vs Jaqueline Cristian odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Madison Keys vs Jaqueline Cristian prediction
Both looked quite solid during their respective first-round matches. Keys returned to compete in Auckland after more than a decade. She fell in the final round of qualifying back in 2012, and has now scored her first main draw win at the venue. Cristian's win came at the expense of her opponent's misfortune as Starodubtseva was forced to retire.
Cristian won her previous match against Keys, which was a three-set slugfest on the clay courts of Charleston less than a year ago. However, that was only the third tournament of the American's comeback, who started the 2024 season in March due to an injury.
Keys won their other encounter at the Australian Open 2022 in straight sets. With the two now set to compete on her preferred surface, she will be keen to avenge her prior loss to Cristian. The latter went 3-9 against top 20 players in 2024. While she's no pushover, she's still a step behind elite players. As such, the American will be backed to continue her run in Auckland.
Pick: Madison Keys to win in straight sets.
