Steve Tignor’s Match Preview
Also up at 11 A.M., across the grounds in the Supertennis Arena, are these two popular veterans, each of whom has a career-high ranking of No. 2.
Kvitova, 35, and Jabeur, 30, have played six times. The Czech has won four of those matches, but the Tunisian prevailed in the most recent, 6-0, 6-3, at Wimbledon in 2023.
It’s probably an understatement to say these two are streaky. You never know what might come off their racquets from one match—or swing—to the next. But they’re streaky in starkly different ways. Kvitova swings for the fences, with little margin; if she connects, it’s a winner; if not, it’s a wild error. Jabeur also likes to take risks, but they’re of the finesse variety; her drop shots will veer from brilliant to head-scratching.
Jabeur is younger, and more comfortable on clay, and while her 12-9 record in 2025 is only slightly above mediocre, it’s still better than Kvitova’s 1-4. In fact, Kvitova, who is coming back after having a child, recorded her first win of the season this week in Rome.
Kvitova could conceivably hit Jabeur off the court—even a clay one. Jabeur could always have one of her off days. But I’ll take the Tunisian. Winner: Jabeur
