The quarter-finals at the 2025 Adelaide International Tennis Tournament concluded with top seeds advancing, but it was not a great day for Australian players. The tournament has witnessed several key matches, with standout performers and unexpected withdrawals shaping the next stage.
Tommy Paul, the tournament's top seed, eliminated Rinky Hijikata from the competition, sealing his path to the semi-finals with a straight-sets victory of 6-3, 6-4. This win is significant for Paul as it marks his 15th tour-level semi-final, and he is poised to enter the top ten of the world rankings should he reach the finals. Reflecting on his performance, Paul stated, "Yesterday wasn’t the prettiest match but I came out today and I picked up my level a tonne, I mean I knew had to," he said. "I watched Rinky play Goffin the other day and it was very entertaining. He played awesome there so I knew I had to bring it." Paul demonstrated superior service performance, doubling Hijikata’s aces, and he navigated the match without any double faults, contrasting with Hijikata, who served two.
Meanwhile, Rinky Hijikata's impressive run at the tournament came to a halt, though he showed promise and had higher overall serve percentages. Unfortunately, Paul's consistent play proved too strong for Hijikata to overcome. Paul’s next opponent will be Felix Auger-Aliassime, the fifth seed, after the Canadian secured his place by defeating Marcos Giron with scores of 7-6, 6-3.
On the women's side, Jessica Pegula continued her impressive form, defeating compatriot Ashlyn Krueger, who retired early during the match due to exhaustion. Pegula won the match 6-4, 2-0, acknowledging her opponent's physical challenges. She mentioned, "It's never fun to win with a retirement. I knew she had a tough singles yesterday. But coming out you never know what to expect; she was still playing amazing tennis." Pegula's next challenge will be against Yulia Putintseva, who fought through over three hours of play to beat the world number 13, Diana Shnaider, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4.
Another notable result came when Liudmila Samsonova managed to pull off her first top-10 victory of the last year, eliminating second seed Emma Navarro with scores of 6-4, 6-4. Samsonova will next face Madison Keys, who upset third seed Daria Kasatkina decisively at 6-1, 6-3.
The men's draw also featured noteworthy performances. Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic secured his place by defeating French qualifier Benjamin Bonzi, displaying dominance with a 6-2, 6-3 scoreline. His semi-final opponent will be Sebastian Korda, the second seed, who advanced without playing due to Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrawing from the match with injury.
This tournament has showcased the relentless spirit of players on the ATP and WTA tours, featuring thrilling matches and impressive performances from both established stars and rising talent. With semi-finals on the horizon, the excitement continues to build for both players and fans as they anticipate who will emerge victorious from this highly competitive event.
The Adelaide International is becoming pivotal for player rankings and confidence as competitors gear up for the heavier demands of the season. Players will be eyeing not just titles but also valuable ranking points as they strive for success on the ATP and WTA tours.
Overall, the conclusion of the quarter-finals sets the stage for thrilling semi-final matchups, where both expected outcomes and potential surprises await fans and players alike. The competition remains fierce, and the stakes have never been higher as the tournament approaches its climax.