Auckland 2025: Sloane Stephens vs Ann Li preview, head-to-head, prediction and pick | ASB Classic
Match Details
Fixture: Sloane Stephens vs Ann Li
Tournament: ASB Classic 2025
Round: First round (Round of 32)
Venue: ASB Tennis Centre, Auckland, Newzealand
Category: WTA 250
Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt
Prize money: $267,082
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports
Sloane Stephens vs Ann Li preview
Former ASB Classic champion Sloane Stephens will open her 2025 season with a first-round encounter at the WTA 250 event, taking on compatriot Ann Li.
Stephens, who lifted the trophy at the tournament back in 2016 beating the likes of Caroline Wozniacki and Julia Georges en-route, will have her mind set on getting a good start to the season after a largely forgettable 2024.
The American did lift an eighth career title at Open de Rouen back in April but a negative 3-4 win-loss at Grand Slams and 19-22 overall saw her drop out of the top 50 in the world rankings.
Li, meanwhile, is also looking to get back to the sort of run that saw her reach her career-best ranking of No. 44 back at the start of 2022. A one-time Tour title winner, she did show signs of revival after a couple of average years on the circuit.
The American made her first Tour-level final since lifting the Tenerife crown in 2021. Wins over the likes of Nuria Parrizas Diaz, Polina Kudermetova and Jil Teichmann saw her make the Merida Open final, where she lost to Zeynyp Sonmez.
Li did, however, lift a trophy at the WTA 125k at Valencia in June and will look to build on those results.
Sloane Stephens vs Ann Li head-to-head
Stephens leads Li in their current head-to-head with a slender 1-0 margin, having scored a tight 7-5, 6-4 win over her opponent in Guadalajara in 2023.
Sloane Stephens vs Ann Li odds
(Odds will be added once they're available)
Sloane Stephens vs Ann Li prediction
Both Sloane Stephens and Ann Li have had their share of struggles in recent years. While the former has seen a dip in form, injuries (abdomen in 2021 and pectoral and 2022) have derailed the latter’s progress.
Li does, however, enjoy playing in quick conditions. She is a junior Wimbledon finalist and has made the third round at the Australian Open in her young career. She likes hitting the ball big and taking control of the baseline.
Stephens, meanwhile, is the antithesis of that brand of tennis. The 2017 US Open champion has made a name for herself as one of the best counterpunchers out there. While she can crank up the serve and groundstrokes, she is at her best when running down balls and frustrating opponents into submission.
Against Li though, that strategy may not pay off as well. A passive approach will only allow the youngster to find her rhythm, which can be dangerous on these types of courts. Li has shown promise in the last few months and if Stephens is not at her best, which she has not been of late, she will find ways to punish her opponent.
Pick: Li to win in three sets