Defending champion Swiatek Tops Draw in Rome
World No. 1 and defending champion Iga Swiatek returns to WTA Tour action this week, leading a star-studded cast in Rome that features 19 of the Top 20 players.
Swiatek is unbeaten at WTA 1000 events this season. As she embarks on her Internazionali BNL D’Italia crown in the Eternal City, she’ll be looking to maintain that perfect record and bookmakers are certainly in her corner on that score.BetUS sportsbook tips the Polish superstar as the firm favorite to win, priced at +175.
The next best bet after Swiatek is Simona Halep, albeit the Romanian star’s odds are five times greater at +900. After this top tandem, Mutua Madrid Open champion Ons Jabeur rings in as the third-best bet at +1000 and World No.2 Paula Badosa comes in as the fourth overall best bet at +1200.
Here at BetUS, we’ve got you covered for all your Tennis betting thrills each and every week. Join us as we dive into the WTA Rome draw and examine the Tennis odds
closely.
WTA Rome Outrights
- Iga Swiatek +175
- Simona Halep +900
- Ons Jabeur +1000
- Paula Badosa +1200
- Maria Sakkari +1600
- Garbine Muguruza +1800
- Aryna Sabalenka +2000
- Cori Gauff +2500
- Belinda Bencic +2500
- Amanda Anisimova +2500
- Elena Rybakina +2800
- Jessica Pegula +2800
- Naomi Osaka +2800
- Veronika Kudermetova +2800
- Anett Kontaveit +2800
- Emma Raducanu +3000
- Jelena Ostapenko +3000
- Bianca Andreescu +3000
- Ekaterina Alexandrova +3000
- Jil Teichmann +4000
- Leylah Fernandez +4000
- Danielle Collins +4000
- Karolina Pliskova +5000
- Karolina Muchova +5000
- Madison Keys +5000
First Quarter: Swiatek and Kontaveit
After giving the Mutua Madrid Open a skip last week to nurse a shoulder injury, Swiatek is back to defend her title in Rome. The top seed headlines a first quarter that is flanked by fifth seed Anett Kontaveit. Should the tournament fall in line with the draw, the pair could meet in the quarterfinals.
Swiatek’s immediate section (path to the R16) features several darkhorse contenders. In the R32, Swiatek could face either Shelby Rogers or Alison Riske. Then, in the R16, Belarus’s Victoria Azarenka is the highest seeded potential opponent. Although other opponents in the last 16 could also feature Camila Osorio, Lucia Bronzetti or Viktorija Golubic.
Kontaveit’s path to the R16 is more treacherous with several grand slam champions contained within, including Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu. On paper, this section might be one of (if not) the toughest to predict for tennis picks as it has the greatest potential to deliver surprise results.
For instance, Raducanu and Andreescu collide in a blockbuster R64 clash of former US Open champions. Thus, cancelling each other out.
Emma Raducanu 🇬🇧 v Bianca Andreescu 🇨🇦 in WTA Rome first round……
2021 US Open Champion v 2019 US Open Champion pic.twitter.com/oU6MFOJpkF
— Chris Goldsmith (@TheTennisTalker) May 6, 2022
The winner of that highly anticipated matchup will then face the winner of Osaka vs Sara Sorribes-Tormo. Yikes!.
Kontaveit will likely face one of these ladies in the R16, assuming she advances to that stage. The Estonian opens her campaign against the winner of Petra Martic vs Karolina Muchova in the first round.
Second Quarter: Sabalenka and Collins
Aryna Sabalenka, seeded third, spearheads a packed second quarter alongside No. 7 seed Danielle Collins. Sabalenka’s form is up and down of late while Collins’ clay-court prowess isn’t amongst the best in the women’s game. This opens the door to other hopefuls to win this quarter, including the tournament’s second favorite Simona Halep.
Sabalenka’s is slated to open her tournament against the winner of Shuai Zhang vs Martina Trevisan. In the R16, she could face a number of dangerous floaters, including American Madison Keys and Mutua Madrid Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Ludmila Samsonova and Anhelina Kalinina are other potential R16 opponents.
Collins has the toughest section of this quarter without a doubt. The American is on course to face the winner of Halep vs. Alize Cornet in the R32. Should Collins survive the R32, she would then face one of the following: Belinda Bencic (12th seed), Amanda Anisimova, Tereza Martincova or Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Third Quarter: Sakkari and Mugurza
The top seeds on course for a quarterfinal showdown in the third quarter are Maria Sakkari and Garbine Muguruza. Before this pair can look that far ahead, they must navigate some tricky opponents.
Muguruza is slated to open her tournament against the winner of Kaja Juvan or Yulia Putinseva. In the R16, things get much tougher as she’s on course to face either Camilla Giorgi, Alja Tomljanovic, Sorana Cirstea or eighth seed and third favorite overall, Ons Jabeur.
Happy Sunday everyone! 🏆
Last pic I promise 😁😂 pic.twitter.com/cXTEmp21Km— Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) May 8, 2022
Sakkari’s first opponent could be former French Open finalist Sloane Stephens or Ekaterina Alexandrova. In the R16, Coco Gauff is the highest seed (15th) that could challenge the Greek. Others that could emerge in this round include Denmark’s Clara Tauson, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk or three-time grand slam champion Angelique Kerber.
Fourth Quarter: Badosa and Pliskova
World No. 2 Paula Badosa and World No. 7 Karolina Pliskova flank the opposite corners of the fourth quarter. Badosa has had a so-so clay-court season so far while Pliskova is still looking to find form this season.
Wins have been few and far in between for Pliskova as she enters Rome with a subpar 2-4 record. Although she could find form at any given moment, based on her recent results she’s in danger of an early exit. In the R32, she’ll face the winner of Jasmine Paolini vs Jil Teichmann. If she overcomes this early challenge, she would face either Elena Rybakina, Elina Avanesyan, Lauren Davis of Jelena Ostapenko.
Badosa will take on the winner of Aliaksandra Sasnovich vs Veronika Kudermetova. In the R16, Badosa is slated to face either Daria Kasatkina, Tamara Zidansek, Leylah Fernandez or Anastasia Pavyluchenkova.
Tennis Betting Verdict
The betting online market is quite rightly cornered with Swiatek, who has been playing some incredible tennis this season to underline her top ranking. One could do no worse than backing the Pole to win it all.
Elsewhere, Halep’s championship credentials speak volumes. She’s certainly one to spot for tennis picks this week, as she hones her craft ahead of the fast-approaching French Open.
Ons Jabeur is coming off the biggest title and only second overall title victory of her career. She’s a solid player and a real threat for the upcoming French Open, but one wonders if she might suffer a letdown performance after her career-defining achievement in Madrid.
Outside bets to consider include Jessica Pegula (+2800), who elevated her clay-court profile in Madrid. As well, Gauf and Bencic (+2500)f are playing solid tennis on the red dirt. However, Bencic, in particular, is one to spot. She blows hot and cold from tournament to tournament, but when she’s hot, she’s quite something.
