Tauson Faces Tomljanovic in Ningbo Open 2025 Opener

Ningbo, China — Clara Tauson, the fifth seed, will face veteran Ajla Tomljanovic in the opening round of the Ningbo Open 2025. The match is scheduled for Tuesday at 1:00 pm on Grandstand.

The 22-year-old Danish player enters the tournament with a career-high ranking of No. 12. Tauson has had a mixed yet promising season, highlighted by a title in Auckland where she won after Naomi Osaka retired due to injury.

After securing a semifinal spot in Linz, Tauson had to withdraw from Doha but bounced back with a final round appearance in Dubai, losing to Mirra Andreeva. Despite some mid-season challenges, she reached the quarterfinals in Nottingham, Montreal, Washington, and Seoul. Tauson has scored an impressive 347 aces this season and achieved a first-serve win rate of 69.4% over 57 matches.

On the other hand, Ajla Tomljanovic, ten years Tauson’s senior, has faced a more tumultuous season marked by injuries and inconsistency. The Australian’s best results this year include semifinal runs in Auckland and Morocco, but she also had to retire during matches at Indian Wells and Morocco.

Tomljanovic has hit 83 aces in her 32 matches this season, with a 62.9% win rate on her first serve. The two players are currently tied 2-2 in their head-to-head record, having last played against each other in Cincinnati, where Tauson leveled the series.

Tauson’s solid form and younger experience make her a favorite to win, although Tomljanovic’s experience could present a challenge. Betting odds currently favor Tauson at -250 against Tomljanovic at +200. With their history and recent performances considered, many experts predict Tauson to win in straight sets.