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Match Details
Fixture: Sofia Kenin vs Clara Tauson
Date: January 1, 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
Sofia Kenin vs Clara Tauson preview
Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin will take on Clara Tauson in the second round of the ASB Classic 2025.
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Kenin was up against Wang Xiyu in her Auckland opener. The first set went to a tie-break given how the two matched each other shot for shot. The American edged out her opponent to claim the set. She then rode the wave of momentum and dropped only one game in the second set to secure a 7-6 (5), 6-1 win.
Tauson started her campaign here against Lucrezia Stefanini. The match started with three consecutive service breaks, with the young Dane coming out on top to take a 2-1 lead. She didn't relinquish her grip on the proceedings after that, and secured another break of serve en route to claiming the set.
The second set saw five breaks of serve across the first six games of the set. Tauson had the upper hand as she ended up being the only one to hold serve during this time. The two settled down over the next couple of games, after which the Dane broke her opponent's serve one last time to score a 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Sofia Kenin vs Clara Tauson head-to-head
The two have split their previous two meetings evenly to tie the head-to-head at 1-1. Kenin won their most recent encounter at the Pan Pacific Open 2024 in three sets.
Sofia Kenin vs Clara Tauson odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Sofia Kenin vs Clara Tauson prediction
Since her star-making turn in 2020, when she won the Australian Open and was the French Open runner-up, Kenin has fallen off the radar. Her results have been inconsistent, and poor for the most part, aside from a handful of good runs during the year.
Kenin finished the 2024 season with a 14-22 record, with a runner-up finish in Tokyo being her best result. Tauson was touted as a player to watch out for but recurring injuries halted her progress. While she dropped her serve thrice in the first round here, she also broke her opponent's serve seven times.
Kenin was locked in during her first-round match against Wang. She saved all four break points that she faced, one of which was also a set point. After losing to Tauson in their very first encounter at last year's French Open, she got her revenge when they crossed paths in Tokyo a few months later.
Their showdown in Tokyo took place in October, so the memory will be fresh in their minds. It was a closely fought contest with Tauson saving two match points before folding. Based on their display in the first round here, Kenin will be favored to get the better of the Dane yet again.
Pick: Sofia Kenin to win in three sets.
