Brisbane International 2025: Peyton Stearns vs Veronika Kudermetova preview, head-to-head, prediction and pick

Match Details

Fixture: Peyton Stearns vs Veronika Kudermetova

Tournament: Brisbane International 2025

Round: First Round (Round of 32)

Venue: Queensland Tennis Centre, Brisbane, Australia

Category: WTA 500

Surface: Outdoor hardcourt

Prize Money: $1,520,600

Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+

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Peyton Stearns vs Veronika Kudermetova preview

The opening round of the 2025 Brisbane International will have two big-hitting players, Peyton Stearns and Veronika Kudermetova, lock horns in an intriguing battle.

Stearns, the younger of the two opponents, had a breakthrough season in 2024. She not only lifted her first Tour-level title at Morocco but also made the second week at the US Open to break into the top 50 of the world rankings.

Ready and raring to go, the American will be looking to carry her positive momentum into the new season.

Kudermetova had an underwhelming 2024 season. (Source: Getty)

Kudermetova, on the other hand, was one of the notable underperformers last season. Her dismal season saw her exit all four Slams in the opening round and not reach any Tour-level finals. As a result, her ranking dropped from No. 19 all the way down to No. 77 in the 12 months.

The fall was even more notable given her hugely successful 2022 and 2023 seasons that had seen her reach five finals and lift a WTA 500 trophy in Tokyo. The Russian will be keen on turning over a new leaf ahead of the 2025 season.

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Peyton Stearns vs Veronika Kudermetova head-to-head

Stearns and Kudermetova have never crossed paths on Tour before, so their current head-to-head stands at a 0-0 deadlock.

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Peyton Stearns vs Veronika Kudermetova odds

Player	Moneyline	Handicap Bets	Total Games
Peyton Stearns
Veronika Kudermetova

(Odds will be added once they're available)

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Peyton Stearns vs Veronika Kudermetova prediction

Stearns will be a favorite to win on paper. Source: Getty

Given their 2024 seasons, Peyton Stearns will come into the contest as a favorite to win on paper. She will, however, need to be wary of the seasoned Veronika Kudermetova.

The Russian, when playing at her best, can be a real menace to play against. She possesses a potent weapon in the form of her big serve and wins a fair few easy points off it. Her defensive skills are also underrated and she is a great mover for someone her height.

Kudermetova could have also used the off-season to address some of the issues plaguing her game, inconsistency in particular. Against Steatns, she will need to play at her 100% throughout the encounter.

The American gave a good assessment of her fighting skills in 2024, pushing top names like Aryna Sabalenka and Marketa Vondrousova to the brink. She likes to hit the ball big off the court, and much like Kudermetova, is an underrated counterpuncher.

First matches are never easy and there is bound to be some rust. Fans can expect a tight contest, but Stearns' superior showing in crunch moments of late should give her the edge.

Pick: Stearns to win in two tight sets