Fri Apr 25 12:50:00 UTC 2025: ## American Stearns Favored Over Birrell in Madrid Open First Round
**Madrid, Spain** – American tennis player Peyton Stearns will face Australian Kimberly Birrell in the first round of the Madrid Open on Tuesday, April 22nd. The match, which is expected to begin no earlier than 2:40 pm UK time (9:40 am ET, 6:40 am PT), will be played at the Park Manzanares in Madrid.
Stearns enters the match looking to rebound from a first-round exit at the Charleston Open. While her season has had its ups and downs, including a strong showing in Dubai and consistent success on clay – notably winning her first career title in Rabat and reaching the third round of the French Open in consecutive years – she faces a potentially challenging opponent in Birrell.
Birrell, a wildcard entry who has reached a career-high ranking of 61, has shown flashes of brilliance this season, including a quarter-final appearance at the Singapore Open. However, her clay-court record lacks the same impressive consistency as Stearns’.
Despite Stearns’ recent struggles, analysts favor her to win the match in three sets (2-1). The match will be televised on Sky Sports Tennis (UK) and the Tennis Channel (US), and can also be streamed online via Sky Go (UK) and the Tennis Channel app (US). Tickets are available via [link to ticket information].
First Piper 