WTA Rome: Angelique Kerber threatens second round duel with Simona Halep, Serena Williams on comeback against Naomi Osaka?
Angelique Kerber will initially meet a qualifier at the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome, but would play against Simona Halep if she won.Serena Williams could meet Naomi Osaka in the quarterfinals of her comeback.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: May 08, 2021, 04:03 pm
Angelique Kerber is not really lucky with the draws in this clay court season: In Stuttgart, the German failed in round two to Elina Svitolina, and a few days later in Madrid was against Petra Kvitova after winning a match. And it wouldn't be particularly surprising if the 33-year-old should complete the hat trick of second-round defeats at the WTA 1000 event in Rome.
Because Kerber, who landed in the third quarter of the tableau, would meet Simona Halep, who was third, in the second match after her opening game against a qualifier. Like all eight top seeded players, the Romanian initially has a bye. Should the three-time Grand Slam winner also defeat the Romanian, it could go against Johanna Konta in the round of 16. Possible quarter-final opponents of Kerber are Petra Kvitova and Bianca Andreescu.
Lower half: Williams versus Podoroska in round two?
The Canadians will play their first match since the tournament in Miami in Rome after recovering from corona. Serena Williams, who is also returning to the WTA tour in the Italian capital, paused even longer. The 39-year-old will play her first game since the Australian Open against Nadia Podoroska or a qualifier.
In the quarter-finals, Naomi Osaka would wait for the 23-time individual Grand Slam winner as planned. The Japanese will play in her first game against Daria Kasatkina or Jessica Pegula, after which a new edition of the Australian Open final against Jennifer Brady could be on the program.
Upper half: Barty against Sabalenka in the quarterfinals?
In the upper half, world number one Ashleigh Barty got a good draw, but in the quarterfinals it could go against Aryna Sabalenka, who is currently in top form. The 24-year-old from Belarus could face major hurdles with Camila Giorgi and Karolina Pliskova or Cori Gauff.
In the second quarter Sofia Kenin and Elina Svitolina are the top two players, but the favorites to make it into the round of eight are Iga Swiatek and Garbine Muguruza. With Alison Riske (Swiatek) and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Muguruza), however, the two had an unpleasant start.
The entire table of women at a glance
rommap