Two power hitters are all set to cross paths in the second round (R32) of the 2025 Qatar Open. On one side, we have last year’s finalist Elena Rybakina, while on the other side, we have the 23-year-old American Peyton Stearns. Previously, we’ve seen Stearns causing a few troubles to some of the top players with her never-give-up attitude during the big matches. So, it’ll be interesting to see if she can force a major upset in Doha by defeating the former world number 3. Who has the edge in this enticing encounter, though?

Elena Rybakina vs Peyton Stearns: Preview

Elena Rybakina will be entering this match following her SF defeat to Swiss star Belinda Bencic in the 2025 Abu Dhabi Open.

On the other hand, Peyton Stearns will be entering this epic contest following her impressive two-set triumph over Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska. 

Rybakina vs Stearns: Head-to-Head

Elena Rybakina and Peyton Stearns have never played against each other in their careers as of now. So, this will be their first meeting, and hence, their H2H record is currently at 0-0!

Prediction: Rybakina to win in straight sets

Elena Rybakina had a better run in the twelve months, and even in the rankings, there is a huge gap between the two. If we take a look at the numbers, Rybakina (7) had a win-loss record of 43-13 in the 2024 season, but in this season, she has recorded 8-3 so far. Peyton Stearns is currently ranked 47th in women’s singles ranking, and she had a win-loss record of 21-21 in the previous season. In this season, the American’s win-loss record is 3-4. 

Apart from these numbers, the quick courts in Doha could well work in favor of the Kazakhstani superstar. Elena Rybakina’s big first serve and venomous groundstrokes will really be hot to handle on this surface.

Talking about their playing styles, Peyton Stearns has an aggressive style of play. She loves playing on the hard courts, and her booming forehand shots are something that Elena Ryabkina needs to keep an eye on right from the start of this match. Stearns enjoys playing marathon tussles, grinding it out from the backcourt with her steady baseline game. She likes swinging her rackets freely, generating some real power behind her shots. However, the major concern in her game is currently the high number of double fault counts. Peyton Stearns hit only 97 aces last season but committed 137 double faults!

On the other side, Elena Rybakina is an aggressive baseliner who primarily aims to finish points quickly and whose high-risk style of play often leads to a high accumulation of both winners and unforced errors. She can generate effortless power, both on groundstrokes and her serves. Talking about Rybakina’s serve, she hit 358 aces last season! Even her forehand and backhand are both hit flat with relentless depth and speed, allowing her to generate some raw power with both her groundstrokes.

Considering the level of tennis she plays and the vast experience of playing in the bigger matches, I don’t feel it’d be tough for her to beat a relatively inexperienced campaigner like Stearns.