WTA Rome draw: Kerber meets Siniakova, Serena Williams is out injured
Angelique Kerber will meet Katerina Siniakova at the WTA Premier 5 event in Rome. While a majority of the world's best players are represented in the draw, Serena Williams canceled her start in the Italian capital.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Sep 12, 2020, 06:29 pm
After the semi-finals at the US Open against Victoria Azarenka, Serena Williams will probably return to the international tennis stage at the French Open. The American canceled her originally planned start at the WTA tournament in Rome due to an injury to the Achilles tendon.
The world number one Ashleigh Barty will not be in the Italian capital, as will Naomi Osaka, but otherwise the organizers can look forward to a great field of participants. Simona Halep leads the field, the Romanian meets Anastasija Sevastova or Jasmine Paolini at the start. Petra Martic, seeded eighth, could wait in the quarter-finals.
Azarenka vs. V. Williams at the beginning
In the upper half there could also be extremely interesting games right at the beginning. Sofia Kenin is up against the winner of the match between US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka and Venus Williams.
Angelique Kerber, who will open against Katerina Siniakova, is a possible third-round opponent of Kenin or Azarenka. In the second round, the German would face Vera Zvonareva or a qualifier.
In the lower half, the defending champion is represented with Karolina Pliskova. The Czech got a good draw and could face Belinda Benic in a possible quarter-final. The Swiss will play her first game against Julia Görges or a qualifier. In addition, with Kiki Bertens and Elina Svitolina there are two other top ten players in the lower half.