The men’s side of the Mutua Madrid Open was a tragic comedy of retirements and walkovers. However, the women’s tournament did not disappoint. Aryna Sabalenka played a trio of thrillers, beating Danielle Collins and Elena Rybakina before losing a heartbreaker in the final against Iga Swiatek. Can either Sabalenka or Rybakina take down the top-ranked Pole in Rome? How about an American like Collins or Coco Gauff?
Here are my best bets for the women’s 2024 Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
Iga Swiatek (+140)
Swiatek is the best player in the world regardless of surface–but she is especially dominant on clay. The three-time French Open champion is coming off a title in Madrid. It wasn’t easy (at least not in the final against Sabalenka), but it was never going to be in quick conditions at high altitude where big hitters can take the racket out of Swiatek’s hands. Rome is more favorable for Swiatek, who has lifted the trophy twice at this event.
Danielle Collins (+1300)
Nobody on tour has been hotter than Collins this spring–not even Swiatek. Collins won back-to-back titles in Miami (hard courts) and Charleston (clay), losing a total of two sets combined throughout those two tournaments. In Madrid the 30-year-old American advanced two rounds before losing in three sets to Sabalenka–an extremely high-quality match.
Jelena Ostapenko (+4000)
It’s going to take something special to beat Swiatek in Rome, which means–outside of the world No. 1–you might as well make a home-run swing. Ostapenko is always a worthy candidate for a proverbial home run given the hit-or-miss nature of her game. When the Latvian gets hot, watch out (see the 2017 French Open and her 2023 U.S. Open upset of Swiatek). Ostapenko’s recent Rome results include a pair a quarterfinal finishes followed up a semifinal performance last spring.
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who ya got?
Thanks, Ricky (a fresh page for WTA Rome)
Nice one!
Iga, Aryna, and Elena, but not necessarily in that order. One more to make the last 4, usually Gauff, but Ostapenko would be good too. I botched the rest of my WTA Rome draw.
ATP Rome, what can I say? I had too much time to choose and switch names around.
The match I watched this week was Badosa vs. Mirra Andreeva. Paula Badosa played very well and seemed to make easy work of teenager Mirra Andreeva. I guessed Paula might still be off her game due to her time spent with Tsitsipas, aka Romeo. And now I see why it is too early, at least on the clay and conditions in Rome, to pick Mirra making a deep run. Je regrette tout.
I too thought Paula would be tooo upset to play well, ho, ho ho! And picked Andreeva to go a couple of rounds. We all picked Elena v Iga with mixed result. I picked Ryb.
I thought it was risky to have Andreeva going far so had Samsonova instead. But not sure about her either on slow clay
Vamos, Rafa!
At first glance, I had him winning and beating Novak. Medvedev was also my winner vs. Rafa, and I changed that. Rafa was my main concern, and I hope he goes deep or wins RG. My heart goes back to Rafa, where I first watched him play, and then blah blah…everyone has their story.
Ultimately, I settled on Novak without Carlos and Sinner, with Medvedev winning. But given the extra time to choose, I went to Novak and settled it; I thought I was done, but somehow Rune ended up the finalist and not Meddie! On clay, there are also too many names, mostly South Americans, that I can’t remember; therefore, it’s a Jalep_Wilguess.
My laptop is being examined, so post is from Android.
Was able to follow tennis scores today. ATP was a tough day for many favorites but Meddie made it along with a couple others I like.
Qinwen “Queen” I call her got a win over Osaka. Something tell me the #1 Chinese player was not going to lose this time after a disappointing loss in Madrid.
WTA quarterfinals are set. But I can’t remember who all of them are playing!
I think one match is Iga vs. Keys, same as in Madrid ?
And I did watch the Thrilling 3rd set TB between Elina Svitolina vs. Saba. It was a tough TB liss but gives me hope that Svitolina still has her fighting.
spirit.
Saba vs. ? QF
Gauff won today that’s all I remember!
Will try to be awake early.
Meddy would be a good pick but nit even sure he will play.I think Tsitsi is risky as my finalist until he would beat Stuff and we see how heartbroken he is
Tsitsi Fly did not seem heartbroken at all in an interview he gave after, hmm, Monte Carlo. I think it was; maybe it was after he was runner-up in Barcelona. And I thought, wow, considering Paula Badosa, I hope she snaps back to her old self before the fling with Tsitsi (tse tse fly is the bite that causes Malaria). That’s what comes to mind when I type Tsitsi; it’s always fly. Never think of him as a Romeo.
Margot, please don’t be offended. You know, my mind goes places a bit like Brad Gilbert’s when it comes to nicknames for tennis players.
Yikes, being like BG, oh no. I apologize in advance.
Interesting. Must look out for these nicknames. I did think of tsetse fly. Or is it fly in the ointment 😉
TseTse fly would be bad in an ointment, ouch!
I keep most of my nicknames for players to myself for as long as possible 😀
This beautiful Romanian player, Jaqueline Christian, played very well against Gauff in the second set and gave Coco a bagel! Jacqueline was a qualifier, and I knew she was dangerous. Of course, I had no clue where she would land in the Rome main bracket. It’s excellent tennis in the decider! Coco won the first set 6-1. We shall see if Coco can make it. Coco might have been surprised at the Romanian’s high level of play in that second set. Ah, no, Coco is onto her opponent’s power now. J. Christian is 5’11”, but Coco is serving lights out!
And if she can keep from being broken, Coco has this. Christian is a break down. But one break down with Coco serving is a tall order.
This 25-year-old Romanian has made many qualies but doesn’t make many WTA main draws at this level. If Jaqueline Christian showed more fight, or maybe she needed more stamina, the qualities for Rome looked tough; Christian would be dangerous at this level.
Congrats Coco!
Not offended at all Elizabeth, I think sn ironic “god’s gift” describes him better…something about the way he tosses his hair and pouts…;)
Yes, Margot, that nickname fits him perfectly. He is “god’s gift,” and he is Greek for the love of god! You might remember I still have a very Greek friend in Portland who used to invite me to his condo in Palm Desert. I would never have had the opportunity to go to Indian Wells and see all my favorite players if not for him. He was also “god’s gift” and the eldest of his family, just like “darling nose held high,” Stefanos 😀
Coco’s serving is better than ever right now, I say!
Sofia Kenin got a three-set win over Ons Jabeur. This is not good news for Ons, but maybe it is for Kenin. If she wins, Kenin will face the winner of Sara Sorribes Tormo vs. Ostapenko! Although Sorribes Tormo has two wins over Ostapenko, it was years ago! Ostapenko is miles ahead, though, having a better year at 19-8. Sorribes Tormo has 6 wins and 11 losses so far in 2024.
Swiatek into the Rome SF!
It was a great clay run for Keys too.
And I know Gauff plays today also, but I have appointments soon I won’t make it back in time to watch that QF. Can’t recall who Gauff’s opponent is. I miss my laptop.
Dang it!
Lost my congrats post to Big Al and Iga!
Funny thing for his detractors on here, Carthorse is now a Claylor 😉
Or will that be Claylord
Claylor is fine.
How about claylol…
Watch him win RG now
😱😱😱😱