Rome Scores – 31 / 51 (61%)
WTA Rome Final Prediction for Sunday
Day 7 – 0/1
Halep d. Svitolina in 3 sets
WTA Rome SF Predictions for Saturday
Day 6 – 1/1
Thoughts about the semi-finals in Friday’s Set Points post.
Halep d. Bertens in 2 sets
Svitolina d. Muguruza in 3 sets
WTA Rome SF Polls for Saturday
WTA Rome QF Predictions for Friday
Day 5 – 1/4
Thoughts about all four matches in Thursday’s Set Points post. Venus-Garbi is the only match where I was mildly confident of picking a side. I really could see the Gavrilova-Bertens and Pliskova-Svitolina matches going either way.
Halep d. Kontaveit in 3 sets
Gavrilova d. Bertens in 3 sets
V.Williams d. Muguruza in 2 sets
Pliskova d. Svitolina in 3 sets
WTA Rome QF Polls for Friday
WTA Rome R3 Predictions for Thursday
Day 4 – 4/8
Kontaveit d. Lucic-Baroni in 3 sets – A big hitting clash, really not much to call between the pair based on their styles and recent form. I remember MLB having a tough time against Ostapenko who hits deep with pace. I think Kontaveit could present a similar kind of problem. I’m really liking Kontaveit so going for her in this match.
Pavlyuchenkova d. Halep in 3 sets – Halep leads the H2H, 6-0 and has dropped just one set in all those matches. Halep is high on confidence from Madrid… however, i’ve got this feeling that Pavs might nick a shock win (in terms of the H2H) given her excellent form and that Halep has played a lot of tennis and is likely to be physically and mentally tired. I’ll go with my instinct and not the H2H!
Bertens d. Makarova in 2 sets – Bertens won just last week in Madrid (6-1 7-6) and is finding some super form back on the clay.
Kuznetsova d. Gavrilova in 2 sets – A repeat third rounder from Rome last year where Kuznetsova won, 6-2 2-6 6-3. Kuznetsova has never lost to Gavrilova in four meetings. I think Kuznetsova was given a wake up call by Siniakova in the last round where she was lucky to avoid a third set. Gavrilova is unlikely to be able to hit with the same ferocity of Siniakova and I think Kuznetsova will be able to deal with Gavrilova’s mix of shots.
Konta d. V.Williams in 3 sets – Hmmm this is an interesting one! Konta leads the H2H, 3-1 but the pair have never played before on the clay. Venus is more experienced on this surface but it’s not a favourite of either. I feel that Konta can have results on this surface but things just haven’t fallen her way in the past year or two. The surface may play more into Venus’s hands but still feeling that Konta might come through.
Muguruza d. Goerges in 3 sets – Oof not a clue, tricky to guess how Muguruza plays match by match. I’d give her the benefit of the doubt after an encouraging win vs. Ostapenko.
Barthel d. Svitolina in 2 sets – Barthel’s on a brilliant run on clay and comes into this match with oodles of confidence. Svitolina pulled out of her doubles with a gastrointestinal illness… that has solidified my feeling that Barthel’s got a good shot in this match.
Pliskova d. Bacsinszky in 3 sets – I feel like the night match might help Pliskova? Great to see Bacsinszky beating some quality opposition this week and she has beaten Pliskova before in Rome. Of all the matches, this is the one I am most unsure about.
WTA Rome R3 Polls for Thursday
WTA Rome R2 Predictions for Wednesday
Day 3 – 7/13
Kontaveit d. Kerber in 2 sets – Even with the uncertainty of how Kerber reacts to the hamstring injury that forced her to pull out of her third round match against Bouchard in Madrid last week, i’d give Kontaveit in her current form a fair shot at the upset. Kerber spoke positively in press but i’m still not convinced.
Ostapenko d. Muguruza in 2 sets – Ostapenko is in red hot form and with her often blistering depth and pace, Muguruza will unlikely be given time to settle.
Svitolina d. Cornet in 3 sets – This could be a gruelling match. I can’t quite figure out Svitolina – she looked superb at the end of Dubai but she’s not been able to find that level again. Cornet had a good win over Errani in the first round but i’m not sure her level and consistency is there right now to knock out Svitolina who is still going to give away little.
V.Williams d. Tsurenko in 3 sets – I was generally impressed with Venus in the first round considering she hadn’t played since Charleston. I’m sensing this could be a battle. Tsurenko has been very inconsistent this year – I never know if she is injured or not!
Halep d. Siegemund in 3 sets – On the fence with this one, Siegemund leads the H2H, 2-0 but both were on the clay courts of Stuttgart which suit Siegemund perfectly. The slower courts in Rome should help Halep out but she will still be up against it. Tending towards Halep getting through but a tough ask after a gruelling week in Madrid.
Davis d. Pliskova in 3 sets – I could see all the seeds potentially going out, all these matches look tight to me. Not feeling much confidence from Pliskova after Madrid and Davis actually leads the H2H, 2-0. Pliskova will have to play well to get through this one against an in-form Davis
Cibulkova d. Makarova in 2 sets – Makarova has saved her best tennis for playing Cibulkova this year with two three set wins. Not a clue with this one. I’ve gone Cibulkova both times so third time lucky 😂😂😂
Bellis d. Bertens in 3 sets – A toss-up, no strong feelings. Both are playing well.
Gavrilova d. Garcia in 2 sets – Gavrilova won their two encounters in 2017 quite comfortably. Garcia did a good job to get past Vekic but will need to be patient & decisive to get past Gavrilova who already has three matches under her belt. Not feeling it…
Barthel d. Wang Qiang in 3 sets – Both in superb form, both can hittt the ball. Prefer Barthel on clay.
Jankovic d. Goerges in 2 sets – The last time Jankovic won back-to-back main draw matches on the tour, she beat Goerges in straight sets. It’s written in the stars 😂😂😂
Strycova d. Bacsinszky in 3 sets – Strycova has never lost a set to Bacsinszky in four previous encounters. While Bacsinszky is more comfortable on clay, Strycova has looked decent on this surface too.
Pavlyuchenkova d. Sevastova in 3 sets – Sevastova has been playing great, but so has Pavs who has a 4-0 H2H record including three straight set wins. The pair have never played before on clay. Typed two sets but it would be a special performance to Pavs to wrap up in straights!
WTA Rome R2 Predictions for Tuesday
Day 2 – 2/2
Sharapova d. Lucic-Baroni in 3 sets – Their match in Madrid was pretty good, MLB gets another shot. I’d go for Sharapova again who should have a bit more time on the ball compared to Madrid.
Konta d. Putintseva in 3 sets – A toss-up, a big match for Konta as her draw is solid this week. Poots can play on the clay but she’s been disappointing of late. Konta won their only previous match on clay in Oeiras in 2013, 4-6 6-1 7-.5
Kuznetsova d. Siniakova in 2 sets – Siniakova did well to beat Zhang Shuai in a third set tiebreak, but was an emotional wreck, as always! Perhaps will take Sveta a bit of time to adjust to the clay of Rome but not feeling the upset.
WTA Rome R2 Poll for Tuesday
WTA Rome R1 Predictions for Tuesday
Day 2 – 8 / 10
Gavrilova d. Keys in 3 sets – A rough match-up for both players, Gavrilova came through qualifying having forgotten to enter for the main draw. In fact, I think this may have been positive for Gavrilova as she had won just two matches on clay. Keys is still searching for her first win on clay and needs matches. On clay and with two qualifying matches under her belt, i’d fancy the 2015 semi-finalist to beat the the 2016 finalist.
Goerges d. Mladenovic in 3 sets – On form, Mladenovic will win. However, she played a lot of tennis in Madrid and was bothered by a back injury. She’ll have to adjust to new conditions against a tricky opponent. Goerges lost first round in both Prague and Madrid, but has had some of her best results on clay.
Vinci d. Makarova in 3 sets – The pair have split their last four matches with the two most recent going the distance. Vinci’s results have been unspectacular in Rome but this could be her last outing at this tournament and I think her recent matches have been a little more promising. Makarova has been very inconsistent this year.
Kontaveit d. Petkovic in 2 sets – Petkovic has had some shocking losses this year but she is a fighter and came from a set down to win both of her qualifying matches. Kontaveit has been stringing the wins together this year, 27 to be exact. I think the Estonian player’s hitting will get her through what should be a fun one.
Bertens d. Niculescu in 2 sets – Niculescu leads the head-to-head, 2-0 but my sense is that Bertens will have confidence from Madrid to hit through Niculescu. It is slow clay but Bertens does like this surface.
Suárez Navarro d. Davis in 2 sets – CSN won their last two matches handily in 2013 but Davis has really come on leaps and bounds in the last year. Still would take CSN on clay.
Bacsinszky d. Babos in 2 sets – Neither is playing great at the moment. On a slow clay court, I would fancy Bacsinszky’s mix of shots to upset Babos’s rhythm. Bacsinszky has won all three previous encounters in straight sets, of which two were on clay.
Sevastova d. Begu in 3 sets – Both have history on clay. Begu’s results have picked up on clay but she’s still not at the level she was at this time last year.
Bellis d. Doi in 3 sets – Doi finally won a match in Madrid and a big win at that, her first top ten win against Keys. Bellis has been battling well on the clay. I’d give the American the nod in this one, even with less experience, as I think her mentality is decent.
Ostapenko d. Rogers in 2 sets – I wonder if match play might come into this one – Ostapenko has won eight matches since Charleston, while Rogers has won just one.
WTA Rome R1 Predictions for Monday
Day 1 – 8 / 12
Sharapova d. McHale in 2 sets – Sharapova leads the H2H, 4-0 with three of those wins coming on clay. McHale has been struggling for form and has lost a few matches from winning positions including last week in Madrid vs. Arruabarrena. Despite the loss to Bouchard in Madrid, I thought Sharapova’s level was high in Madrid and i’d have her as an outsider for the title this week.
Shvedova d. V.Williams in 2 sets – This will be Venus’s first match in well over a month following a pretty gruelling first four months of the season. Shvedova has a pretty poor season but I sense she may have a shot here as Venus is vulnerable on clay. Of course, i’ve gone against Venus numerous times this year and been made to look rather stupid 😂.
Garcia d. Vekic in 3 sets – Such a tough year for CarGar, I just want to give her a hug! Interestingly, all four of her previous matches against Vekic have gone to three sets. Vekic’s form has definitely picked up and she has won 12 matches since the start of Indian Wells. Garcia is certainly vulnerable but i’d fancy her to get the win here after her first match on tour last week.
Errani d. Cornet in 3 sets – A shame this match didn’t get Pietrangeli but instead is on the Next Gen Arena… what is with that name?! Cornet won their last match but that took place on grass. Errani’s form is improving and with home support and playing in Rome where she has had previous success, I think she’ll come out on top. Expecting a lengthy battle though!
Kasatkina d. Strycova in 3 sets – Loving this match-up as we’ve never seen it before! Kasatkina’s year has been so up and down and aside from Charleston where she won the title, she has lost her first match at five of her last six tournaments. I’d never really though that Strycova was great on clay but she had some excellent results on this surface last year. This should be a fascinating battle, I have a feeling that Kasatkina’s lack of pace might upset Strycova.
Pavlyuchenkova d. Stosur in 3 sets – A rough first rounder for both. Form and H2H both point to Pavs – the Russian player has won three of their last four matches including a straight sets win in Rome in 2015.
Puig d. Putintseva in 3 sets – Neither has had a great spell on tour over the past few months, especially Poots who has won just two completed matches since reaching a first final in St. Petersburg. I like Puig in this match-up, I think she’s decent on the clay.
Riske d. Jankovic in 3 sets – A toss-up, Jankovic should win on clay but she’s becoming a very nervous closer of sets/matches and Riske has been competing well on clay. The American was one point away from beating Kuznetsova last week in Madrid.
Siegemund d. Osaka in 2 sets – Fascinating match-up, Siegemund is likely to be the favourite on clay, plus Osaka is playing her first match since an abdominal injury picked up in Stuttgart. Struggled to pick between two and three sets.
Tsurenko d. Chiesa in 2 sets – A big moment for Chiesa playing her first WTA main draw match. Equally, a big opportunity for Tsurenko to snap a seven match losing streak on tour.
Wang Qiang d. Vesnina in 2 sets – I like the qualifier in this one, Wang Qiang is having a stunning year. The move to a clay, a surface she hasn’t previously done that well on, has not stopped her momentum, if anything she’s building! Vesnina will do well to get through this one.
Siniakova d. Zhang Shuai in 2 sets – Zhang Shuai is having a tough spell at the moment and I don’t think clay is a good surface for her. Siniakova, who dropped just three games in their last encounter in Tokyo last year, for the win.
Barthel d. Peng Shuai in 2 sets – Like both these players who are having good, underrated years. Peng Shuai was very close to the win over CSN last week in Madrid before the Spaniard rolled through the third set of their first rounder with a bagel. Barthel is on a ten match (!) winning streak having won Prague as a qualifier and now qualified for the Rome main draw. Barthel is solid on the clay and I think momentum will bring her through this one.
Rome R1 Polls
Full Draw Predictions
R1
Kerber
Kontaveit
Sharapova
Safarova
Pavlyuchenkova
Sevastova
Siegemund
Halep
Cibulkova
Vinci
Bellis
Bertens
Gavrilova
Garcia
Siniakova
Kuznetsova
Konta
Puig
Tsurenko
Shvedova
Goerges
Riske
Ostapenko
Muguruza
Svitolina
Errani
Barthel
Wang
Kasatkina
Bacsinszky
Suárez Navarro
Pliskova
R2
Kontaveit
Sharapova
Pavlyuchenkova
Halep
Cibulkova
Bellis
Gavrilova
Kuznetsova
Konta
Tsurenko
Riske
Ostapenko
Svitolina
Barthel
Kasatkina
Suárez Navarro
R3
Sharapova
Pavlyuchenkova
Cibulkova
Kuznetsova
Konta
Ostapenko
Barthel
Suárez Navarro
QF
Sharapova
Kuznetsova
Konta
Suárez Navarro
SF
Kuznetsova
Suárez Navarro
F
Kuznetsova
Export taken from Tennis Draw Challenge predictions
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