Croatia’s Donna Vekic is all set to lock horns with Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in the R16 of the Bad Homburg Open. These tennis stars started their campaign with an impressive victory in the first round. They have met each other several times on the WTA Tour, but this will be their first meeting on grass. Who in between these two tennis players has the edge in this enticing contest?

Vekic and Alexandrova have had an average 2025. The Croatian has made it to one SF and QF this season, whereas Alexandrova has reached one final and two SFs in her previous tournaments. It will be interesting to see how these two approach this match on Tuesday (June 25).

Donna Vekic vs Ekaterina Alexandrova: Preview

Donna Vekic defeated Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti by 6-3, 6-4 in the R32. She hit three aces and committed just a single double fault against the Italian. Vekic landed 56%of first serves, winning 77% of them and 55% of her second serve. However, the Croatian tennis star could only manage to convert five out of her ten breakpoints and gave away 2 out of 4.

This season, Donna Vekic has hit 112 aces and has committed nearly 130 double faults as of now. She has won 71% of her service games and 34.9% of her return games.

Her opponent from Russia, Ekaterina Alexandrova, defeated Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska by 6-3, 6-0 in her previous match. She hit five aces and committed four double faults. After landing 66% of first serves, her first win percentage was 88%, which dropped to 71% on the second serve. Alexandrova successfully converted 4 out of 5 breakpoints against the Argentinian, giving away none.

She has hit 158 aces so far this season and has committed 172 double faults. The 29-year-old Russian tennis star has won 69.8% of her service games and 28.8% of her return games, but who has the edge in the H2H?

Vekic vs Alexandrova: Head-to-Head

Both these players have met each other five times on the Tour. Currently, Ekaterina Alexandrova leads the H2H scoreline by a fine margin (3-2). However, it was Donna Vekic who had the last laugh in their first meeting in Budapest.

• 2017 Budapest Grand Prix R32: Vekic 6-3, 7-5
• 2020 ST. Petersburg Open R16: Alexandrova 6-1, 7-5
• 2023 Stuttgart Open R32: Vekic 7-6, 7-6
• 2024 Linz Open semifinal: Alexandrova 5-7, 7-6, 7-6

Alexandrova defeated Vekic by 6-3,6-4 in the R64 of the 2024 Miami Open. She fired eight aces in that match and committed five double faults, whereas Donna Vekic hit four aces and committed six double faults. Vekic won 65% of her first serve and 59% of her second serve, while it was 84% and 53%, respectively, for the Russian. Alexandrova converted two out of her four breakpoints, but Donna Vekiic failed to convert any of nine breakpoint chances.

Prediction: Alexandrova to win this match in straight sets

Both players displayed an exceptional brand of tennis this year. Ekaterina Alexandrova is known for her hyper-aggressive style of play, as she can hit powerful groundstrokes off both wings. She prefers to play on fast surfaces and can generate real venom with her serves and backhands. However, her forehand is relatively weaker.

Donna Vekic, on the other hand, is an aggressive baseliner, and she possesses a powerful first serve capable of generating aces. She can dictate the play from the baseline with her powerful groundstrokes. Vekic is also a quick mover on the courts, but her major weakness is her reluctance to come to the net, which is a big disadvantage for her on the grass. So far, she has managed to get a win-loss record of 15-13 this season, whereas it’s 18-16 for the Russian.

Alexandrova is currently ranked 22nd in the women’s singles ranking, whereas Vekic is ranked 49th. So, looking at their difference in ranking and results in their previous matches, Alexandrova has all the possibilities of coming out of this match with flying colors.