US Open: Paul Annacone, Prakash Amritraj debate Elena Rybakina vs. Marketa Vondrousova

NEW YORK—Labor Day weekend at the 2025 US Open will feature a battle of former Wimbledon champions as Elena Rybakina will face Marketa Vondrousova in the fourth round on Sunday.

Rybakina has been in strong form this summer, reuniting with controversial coach Stefano Vukov and reaching back-to-back semifinals at the Omnium Banque Nationale and the Cincinnati Open. As the No. 9 seed, she is yet to drop a set in Flushing Meadows, demolishing 2021 champion Emma Raducanu with the loss of just three games in the third round.

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According to TC Analyst Paul Annacone, the Rybakina serve has been key to that success, and could help her carry the day in her aim to reach a first US Open quarterfinal against Vondrousova.

“The way she uses this power is so tough to deal with, and when you combine that with her serving capabilities, it’s incredible,” said Annacone, former coach of Roger Federer. “When she hits it within two feet of the line, she’s basically winning 92% of the serve points. But the good news is, for her, even when she’s missing those spots, she’s so successful at the US Open, winning nearly 64-65% when she’s missing the target.

“The second part of this little equation is the second serve points won. The Top 10 seeds win 49%. She’s up at 55% of second serve points, so even when she misses her first, it’s not a bit letdown. So, it’s going to be really tough for Vondrousova to take advantage of the second serve. She’s going to have to try, but because [Rybakina] hits the serve so big, it’s tough, especially if you’re not getting a lot of looks.”

Prakash Amritraj was more bullish on Vondrousova, giving the 2023 Wimbledon champion the edge in intangibles as the all-court Czech competitor comes back from yet another injury lay-off to shine at the US Open, shocking Cincinnati Open finalist Jasmine Paolini in her third-round win.

“In general, it’s about where you can find yourself in a more offensive position,” Amritraj said on Tennis Channel Live on Sunday. “Both of these women are exceptional when they play offense. They don’t shine on the defensive side, so it’s going to be kind of battling.”

Rybakina and Vondrousova have split their two previous head-to-head meetings, the former winning their most recent match on clay at the 2023 Internazionali BNL d’Italia. At the time, Vondrousova was just coming back from injury and playing with a protected ranking; she won her Wimbledon title on grass two months later.

Rybakina and Vondrousova will close out the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium Sunday night.