Olaniyi AyoolaIn the second round of the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open, Daria Kasatkina secured a straight-sets victory over Alycia Parks, winning 6–2, 7–5. The match, held on April 25, showcased Kasatkina’s consistency and tactical prowess on clay.
Kasatkina, seeded 14th and ranked world No. 14, capitalised on Parks’ inconsistent serve, converting 5 of 11 break points. She maintained a solid first-serve percentage of 61% and won 68% of her second-serve points, demonstrating her adaptability and resilience.
Parks, ranked 53rd, struggled with her serve, committing eight double faults and winning only 32% of her second-serve points. Despite these challenges, she managed to break Kasatkina’s serve twice and showed determination in the second set, narrowing the gap before ultimately falling short.
This victory marked Kasatkina’s advancement to the third round, where she was set to face Ekaterina Alexandrova, the 21st seed. Kasatkina’s consistent performance in Madrid, where she has reached the third round for four consecutive years, underscores her proficiency on clay courts.
For Parks, the match highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in serving consistency and handling pressure on clay surfaces. Her aggressive playing style, while effective at times, requires refinement to compete against top-tier opponents in high-stakes matches.
In the second round of the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open, Daria Kasatkina secured a straight-sets victory over Alycia Parks, winning 6-2, 7-5 on April 25. This match highlighted Kasatkina’s clay-court prowess and tactical acumen, allowing her to advance to the third round where she would face Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Kasatkina, currently ranked 14th in the world, showcased her signature defensive skills and strategic play throughout the match. In the first set, she dominated with a 6-2 win, capitalizing on Parks’ unforced errors and inconsistent serve. The second set was more competitive, with Parks initially leading 4-2. However, Kasatkina’s resilience and ability to adapt under pressure enabled her to rally and clinch the set 7-5, sealing the match in straight sets.
Alycia Parks, ranked 53rd, entered the match with a powerful serve but struggled with consistency, committing eight double faults compared to Kasatkina’s two. While Parks managed to win 56% of her first-serve points, her second serve proved vulnerable, winning only 32% of those points. In contrast, Kasatkina won 68% of her second-serve points, demonstrating greater stability.
This victory marks Kasatkina’s continued strong performance on clay courts, a surface where she has historically excelled, including reaching the quarterfinals in Madrid in 2018 and the third round in the past three years. Her next challenge will be against Ekaterina Alexandrova, who advanced after defeating Olga Danilovic 6-3, 6-4.
For Parks, the match highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in maintaining serve consistency and reducing unforced errors. Despite the loss, her performance in the second set indicates potential for growth and adaptation on clay surfaces. As the tournament progresses, both players will look to build on their experiences, with Kasatkina aiming to leverage her clay-court expertise in the upcoming rounds.
Musa
