Samsonova Survives Scare, Kenin Stages Comeback in Wuhan Open

The second round of the Wuhan Open 2025 will feature an intriguing matchup between 16th seed Liudmila Samsonova and former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.

Samsonova kicked off her Wuhan campaign with a hard-fought 6-1, 7-5 victory over lucky loser Emiliana Arango. The Russian raced through the opening set but had to dig deep in the second, fending off three set points before eventually closing out the match.

Meanwhile, Kenin faced a tough test against Anastasia Zakharova in the first round. The American lost the first set but showed tremendous resilience, saving a couple of match points in the second set tiebreaker to force a decider. Kenin then recovered from an early break in the third set, winning the next four games to complete a 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 comeback win.

Both Samsonova and Kenin have struggled to find their best form since the hardcourt swing resumed in July. Kenin has a 4-6 record on the surface over the past three months, while Samsonova's record stands at 4-5 during the same period. Neither player has managed to beat a top 40 opponent during this stretch.

Kenin holds a 2-0 head-to-head advantage over Samsonova, having won their previous meetings in straight sets. The American's experience and ability to counter Samsonova's power could give her the edge in this second-round clash.