Two-time champion Elise Mertens lines up in the Hobart International quarter-finals against resurgent former top-20 staple Veronika Kudermetova.
Mertens boasts a handy 5-2 advantage against Kudermetova, including a win in their most recent encounter – a 3-6 6-4 6-3 result at last year’s US Open.
The Belgian won this event in 2017-18, subsequently reaching the Australian Open semis in the latter year.
World No.34 Mertens was also the runner-up in Hobart last year, her last WTA final appearance in what was ultimately a mixed singles season – though she did get to the US Open’s last 16.
After pulling out of the Auckland Open last week, Mertens has easily accounted for Nuria Parrizas-Diaz (6-3 6-1) and Renata Zarazua (6-4 6-3) in Hobart.
Kudermetova has plummeted to 77th in the rankings after a disastrous season (she was the 15th seed at last year’s Australian Open) and started 2025 with a heavy loss to Peyton Stearns in Brisbane.
But the Russian has regained some confidence with fine wins over Elisabetta Cocciaretto (7-5 6-0) and Camila Osorio (6-4 6-1) this week.
It’s a return to form that sees the previously struggling Kudermetova installed as a slight $2.15 outsider – and it shapes as a tight contest with defensive specialist Mertens.
Hometown lad Thanasi Kokkinakis is reviving memories of his sole ATP title success – the 2022 Adelaide International – with a pair of gritty wins to kick off 2025, but quarter-final opponent Sebastian Korda shapes as his toughest so far.
Korda won each of their three previous encounters – at the Delray Beach Open and Indian Wells Masters in 2022, and the Washington Open last August.
World No.77 Kokkinakis has racked up 38 aces in outlasting Yoshihito Nishioka (6-3 3-6 6-3) and eighth seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry (7-5 4-6 7-6).
He’s into his eighth ATP quarter-final and fourth in Adelaide, but the toll of a three-hour tussle with Etcheverry could be telling just 24 hours later.
Second seed Korda, ranked 22nd, was runner-up to Novak Djokovic here in 2023 before a breakout quarter-final run at the Australian Open.
The 24-year-old pulled out of the Brisbane International before parlaying his first-round bye in Adelaide into a 6-3 6-3 demolition of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Only a $2.00 underdog, Kokkinakis’ brave run seems destined to end here.
Daria Kasatkina has picked off two Australian opponents this week to continue her strong record at the Adelaide International, setting up a quarter-final blockbuster with Madison Keys.
Keys leads this head-to-head 9-2, most recently taking out the Eastbourne International final against Kasatkina.
World No.9 Kasatkina – the 2023-24 runner-up in Adelaide – bounced back from her shock Round of 16 loss to Polina Kudermetova in Brisbane with wins over Olivia Gadecki (6-2 6-3) and rising star Emerson Jones (7-5 6-3).
American Keys, ranked 20th, went down to eventual winner Clara Tauson in the Auckland Open quarter-finals, but she’s put away a pair of higher-ranked players in Adelaide in Beatriz Haddad Maia (6-2 6-1) and defending champ Jelena Ostapenko (3-6 6-4 6-3).
The calibre of Keys’ opponent this week and her dominance against Kasatkina provides enough of an edge to back her with confidence, despite the Russian’s strong recent record at this tournament.
Kazakh veteran Yulia Putintseva and Russian phenom Diana Shnaider clash for the second time in a fascinating Adelaide International quarter-final.
The pair’s only meeting to date was in Osaka in 2023, with Putintseva cruising to a 6-2 6-3 win.
Following on from an impressive 2024 resurgence that was highlighted by winning the Birmingham Classic and reaching the last 16 at Wimbledon, Putintseva climbed to a career-high No.25 ranking after a win over Mccartney Kessler and a tight loss to Aryna Sabalenka in Brisbane.
The 30-year-old has been outstanding so far in Adelaide, overwhelming Donna Vekic (6-2 6-3) and Ons Jabeur (6-2 6-4).
World No.13 Shnaider was one of the breakout stars of 2024, winning four WTA titles, and reaching the Canadian Masters semis and US Open Round of 16.
It’s been a shaky start to 2025 for the 20-year-old, however, going down to Anhelina Kalinina first up in Brisbane, before outlasting Katerina Siniakova (6-3 0-6 6-0) in the first round in Adelaide and advancing yesterday when Marketa Vondrousova retired with a 6-4 1-1 lead.
Shnaider has the makings of a future grand slam winner, but $1.65 favourite Putintseva has a sizeable edge form-wise and shapes as the standout pick here.