WTA Italian Open 2021: Women’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction
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Serena Williams, Ash Barty, Simona Halep and Naomi Osaka
The WTA Italian Open, the second 1000 event on Clay will commence from May 10. It will be the biggest tournament before the French Open and hence will feature 9 out of the top 10 players in the world. Ash Barty comes in as the top seed while Naomi Osaka is seeded second.
Tournament Details:
- Tournament: Italian Open 2021
- Date: May 10-16, 2021
- Number of Entrants: 56 (Singles), 28 (Doubles)
- Venue: Rome, Italy
- Surface: Clay Court
- Prize Money: $1,835,490
- Defending champion: Simona Halep
Top Seeds at the Italian Open 2021
- Ash Barty
- Naomi Osaka
- Simona Halep
- Sofia Kenin
- Elina Svitolina
Women’s Singles Draw Analysis and Prediction
Top Half
First Quarter
The first quarter of the draw features top seed Ash Barty, Belgian Elise Mertens, Karolina Pliskova and 7th seed Aryna Sabalenka. Barty and Sabalenka have been handed first round bye. As for Barty, she has an easy path into the Quarter-Finals, her only challenge being Elise Mertens.
A mouth watering first round clash is lined straight up. Veteran Venus Williams will face 9th seed Karolina Pliskova. The Czech is drawn alongwith Sabalenka and the players could face in the Round of 16.
Quarterfinal Prediction– Ash Barty vs Aryna Sabalenka
Second Quarter
The second quarter of the draw features top guns, Sofia Kenin and Elina Svitolina, who both get a tough draw upfront. Kenin has been drawn alongside teen sensation Iga Swiatek an in form Karolina Muchova.
Meanwhile fifth seed Svitolina will take on the winner of Amanda Anisimova and Qiang Wang. In the Round of 16, she will have to get past either Maria Sakkari or 12th seed Garbine Muguruza.
Quarterfinal Prediction– Iga Swiatek vs Garbine Muguruza
Bottom Half
Third Quarter
The bottom half of the draw features some big names. In the third quarter, third seed Simona Halep will most probably take on Angelique Kerber of Germany. She would go on to face Marketa Vondrousova, Jelena Ostapenko or Johanna Konta.
Sixth seed Bianca Andreescu, who returns after testing positive for COVID-19, will face the winner Anastasija Sevastova and Jil Teichmann in the second round. She is drawn alongside Petra Kvitova and the two could face in the Round of 16.
Quarterfinal Prediction– Petra Kvitova vs Simona Halep
Fourth Quarter
The last quarter of the draw is probably the most exciting one. Serena Williams makes a comeback on court having last played the Australian Open. The quarter also features Australian Open champion, 10th seed Belinda Bencic and Jennifer Brady.
Osaka has been handed a fairly easy draw till the last 8. Her only challenge will come in the Round of 16, where she could face Jennifer Brady, the woman whom she defeated in the Australian Open final.
23-time grand slam champion Serena Williams will look to make a strong return in the lead up to the French Open. She has been drawn alongside Belinda Bencic, her possible Round of 16 opponent.
Quarterfinal Prediction– Serena Williams vs Naomi Osaka
Semi-Finals
It is expected that Ash Barty will take on Iga Swiatek in the first semi-final. The duo met in the Madrid Open just a week before where the World No.1 won in straight sets. Although this time, the young Pole will come better prepared. This could very well be the toughest match for Barty.
In the semi-final, Serena Williams will face rival Simona Halep. The match could be tricky with Serena’s power game and Halep’s defense of Clay. It could go down the distance with Williams prevailing.
Final Prediction– Ash Barty vs Serena Williams
Final
The World No.1 Ash Barty will take on the most decorated tennis star currently, Serena Williams in the final. Barty has answered all her critics and justified her No.1 ranking. As for Serena, she desperately wants to win the 24th slam soon given her age. A title at Rome would boost her chances at Paris for sure but given Barty’s form, she should lift the trophy.
Winner– Ash Barty
Also read: Rome Masters 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction for Italian Open
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Lakshya Chopra
(2595 Articles Published)