Auckland Open: Parks into quarter-finals, meets Volynets next

Alycia Parks continued her impressive run at the 2025 Auckland Open, advancing to the quarterfinals with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory over fellow American Katie Volynets. The match, played indoors due to inclement weather, showcased Parks’ powerful serve and aggressive playstyle, which have been instrumental in her recent success

Parks, ranked No. 82, entered the tournament on a high note, having secured a WTA 125K title in France the previous month. Her momentum carried into Auckland, where she notched a notable comeback win against No. 3 seed Amanda Anisimova in the second round, followed by a straight-sets victory over Belgium’s Greet Minnen .

In the quarterfinals against Volynets, Parks dominated with 11 aces and a 71% success rate on break points, converting 5 of 7 opportunities. Despite a lower first-serve percentage compared to Volynets, Parks’ aggressive returns and net play kept her opponent on the defensive throughout the match .

Volynets, the No. 8 seed and ranked No. 58, had shown resilience earlier in the tournament, battling through a grueling three-hour match against Erika Andreeva and defeating Ann Li in straight sets. However, she struggled to find her rhythm against Parks’ relentless pressure and powerful groundstrokes .

With this victory, Parks secured a spot in the semifinals, where she faced No. 7 seed Naomi Osaka later that same day due to weather-related scheduling adjustments. Despite her earlier exertions, Parks displayed commendable tenacity but ultimately fell to Osaka in straight sets .

Parks’ performance in Auckland underscores her rising trajectory on the WTA Tour. Her powerful serve, aggressive baseline play, and mental fortitude have made her a formidable opponent, signaling her potential to climb higher in the rankings and make deeper runs in future tournaments.