Ningbo Prediction: Kenin vs Kessler 10/13/2025 Today’s Tennis Picks

World No. 28 Sofia Kenin will face World No. 33 McCartney Kessler in the first round of the 2025 Ningbo Open on Monday, October 13. Here’s our Sofia Kenin vs McCartney Kessler prediction. This preview will also include a Sofia Kenin vs McCartney Kessler pick.

Sofia Kenin vs McCartney Kessler Preview

Sofia Kenin is ranked 28th in the rankings and will be playing in Ningbo for the first time. Kenin has compiled 28 wins and 23 losses in 2025. Over half of her wins have been on hard courts, where Kenin is 16-15 for the season. Her best results were reaching two quarterfinals in the first half of the season in Hobart and Dubai.

Kenin’s best result of the season so far was on clay, where she was a runner-up at the Charleston Open. Kenin has won three matches in three tournaments this Asian swing, and is 3-7 in her last 10 matches on tour.

McCartney Kessler is ranked 33rd in the WTA rankings, just three spots shy of her previous career-best ranking of No. 30. Kessler has a great chance of achieving a top 30 year-end ranking. The 26-year-old is a late bloomer, first experiencing a ranking surge last year when she won her first WTA title in Cleveland.

Kessler has continued to improve in 2025, winning 34 matches and losing 22 times. On hard courts, Kessler is an impressive 24-14 and has lifted titles in Hobart and Nottingham this season, taking her current trophy tally to three. Kessler has played two tournaments this swing, both at the WTA 1000 in Beijing and Wuhan. She reached the round of 16 in Beijing and was knocked out in the first round in Wuhan against Jaqueline Cristian.

Sofia Kenin vs McCartney Kessler Head-To-Head

Kenin and Kessler have never met at any level.

Sofia Kenin vs McCartney Kessler Prediction

I’m leaning three sets here, but I’d probably just give Kenin the edge to win this outright. Her level and performance in a three-set defeat to Samsonova this past week were particularly encouraging.