The action is heating up at the WTA Cleveland Open, better known as Tennis in the Land, as the tournament’s early rounds deliver both expected triumphs and a few surprises. With a mix of rising stars and established contenders, the hard courts at Flats West Bank and Jacobs Pavilion are alive with fierce competition and plenty of storylines to keep tennis fans on the edge of their seats.
Ann Li, the American hopeful, has made a confident start to her campaign. On August 17, 2025, she dispatched Yuliia Starodubtseva 7-5, 6-3, securing her place in the second round. Li’s victory wasn’t just routine—it demonstrated her growing poise under pressure and her ability to close out tight sets. This win puts her just four matches away from potentially conquering the Cleveland title, though the path ahead is anything but straightforward.
Next up for Li is Iva Jovic, a player who’s been turning heads in 2025. Jovic boasts a 29-11 win-loss record this season, including 13-6 on hard courts. Her most notable achievements so far include reaching the finals at W35 Arcadia, W100 Charlottesville, and Ilkley. She’s also fresh off a straight-sets win over the fourth seed, Anastasia Potapova, 7-5, 6-3—a result that signals she’s not to be underestimated. Interestingly, this will be the first main tour meeting between Li and Jovic, adding an extra layer of intrigue to their clash.
Statistically, the odds slightly favor Jovic, with some predictions giving her a 56.65% chance to win. That’s based on recent form, including impressive victories over Potapova and Solana Sierra. For Li, overcoming Jovic would be a statement win and a crucial step toward the later rounds, where the competition only intensifies.
Elsewhere in the draw, the field is brimming with talent and unpredictability. Solana Sierra, another young gun, has posted a 36-15 record this year, with a 7-6 mark on hard courts. Sierra’s season is highlighted by finals appearances at W75 Vero Beach, Antalya, and W75 Bellinzona. She’s shown resilience, notably edging out Sonay Kartal in a three-set thriller, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2). Should Li advance, she could face Sierra in a quarterfinal matchup—a first-time meeting on the main tour for both players.
There’s more to watch in the upper echelons of the draw. Xinyu Wang, seeded No. 2 and widely regarded as a tough out, survived a scare in her opening match against Suzan Lamens. Wang dropped the second set in a tiebreak but ultimately prevailed 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-2. Her 2025 record stands at 22-18 (9-9 on hard), and she’s coming off a runner-up finish in Berlin. Wang has a 2-0 head-to-head advantage over Ann Li, both wins coming on hard courts in major tournaments. If they meet again, Li will be seeking both revenge and a breakthrough win on a big stage.
Another name to watch is Liudmila Samsonova, the tournament’s top seed. Samsonova cruised past Caroline Dolehide 6-4, 7-6 (2) in her opener, reinforcing her status as a favorite. Her 2025 campaign has seen her reach the final in Strasbourg, and she’s balanced her schedule with a 25-18 win-loss record, including a 10-10 showing on hard courts. Should Li and Samsonova meet in the final, it would be their third encounter, with the head-to-head currently locked at one win apiece. Their last hard-court duel in a major went Samsonova’s way, but Li has shown she can match up well against the Russian’s power game.
The singles draw isn’t the only source of drama in Cleveland. In doubles action, Ann Li paired with Polina Kudermetova, but their campaign was cut short in the Round of 16. Ivana Corley and Carmen Corley proved too strong, winning 6-2, 7-6 (2). Despite the early exit, Li’s focus remains firmly on her singles journey, where the stakes and the spotlight are even higher.
The Cleveland Open has also seen its share of seeded upsets. On the women’s side, Maya Joint (3), Anastasia Potapova (4), and Sonay Kartal (6) all bowed out earlier than expected. Joint fell to Eva Lys 6-4, 6-4, Potapova was ousted by Iva Jovic, and Kartal lost a tight contest to Solana Sierra. These early departures have cracked the draw wide open, giving unseeded players a real shot at a deep run.
Meanwhile, Katie Boulter, the No. 7 seed from Britain, is quietly building momentum. She dispatched Yue Yuan 6-4, 6-3 to reach the last 16 and is set to face Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic next. Boulter’s steady play and recent form—she’s currently ranked No. 50—make her a dark horse as the tournament progresses.
Other notable results from the opening rounds include Sorana Cirstea’s 6-4, 6-1 win over Moyuka Uchijima, Jil Teichmann’s hard-fought victory against Lois Boisson (5) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4, and Elsa Jacquemot’s 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Zhu Lin. Talia Gibson, Viktorija Golubic, Wang Yafan, and Hailey Baptiste (8) also advanced with solid performances, ensuring a diverse and competitive field heading into the later stages.
Looking ahead, the projected paths suggest more first-time encounters and the potential for several rematches. Ann Li could square off with Elsa Jacquemot or Katie Boulter in future rounds, both of whom she’s never faced before in main tour play. There’s also a possible meeting with Hailey Baptiste, with whom Li shares a 1-1 head-to-head record—another matchup that would draw plenty of attention.
As the tournament continues, all eyes will be on the rising American, Ann Li, as she aims to navigate a challenging draw filled with in-form opponents. With every match, the stakes grow higher, and the possibility of a breakthrough title looms larger. Will Li’s mix of baseline consistency and mental toughness carry her through, or will the likes of Jovic, Wang, or Samsonova prove too tough a hurdle?
One thing’s for sure: in Cleveland, the competition is fierce, and the storylines are only getting juicier with each passing round. Fans won’t want to miss a minute as the Tennis in the Land event barrels toward its dramatic conclusion.
