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Elena Rybakina in the fourth round of Wimbledon 2022, London, UK
Elena Rybakina in the fourth round of Wimbledon 2022, London, UK | (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Tennis | WTA Rome 2024 | Women’s Draw Preview

Tony Fairbairn
Tennis

By Tony Fairbairn

  • Elena Rybakina aims to overcome semi-final disappointment from Madrid as she defends her Rome title.
  • Top Seeds: Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina
  • British Interest: Katie Boulter [26],
ROME, ITALY – Elena Rybakina looks to overcome semi-final heartbreak from Madrid as the Kazakh aims to successfully defend her title in Rome.

 

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[1] Iga Swiatek

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Best Result: Champion (2021, 2022)  

Swiatek will aim to win a third title in four years as she enters this year’s tournament having won her first title in Madrid.

Swiatek’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)

  • R1: BYE | H2H: N/A
  • R2: Caroline Dolehide | H2H: First Meeting
  • R3: Sloane Stephens [31] | H2H: Swiatek leads 3-0
  • R4: Ekaterina Alexandrova [14] | H2H: First Meeting
  • QF: Marketa Vondrousova [6] | H2H: Swiatek leads 3-0
  • SF: Coco Gauff [3] | H2H: Swiatek leads 9-1
  • F: Aryna Sabalenka [2] | H2H: Swiatek leads 7-3

Swiatek could have a potentially tricky third round clash against either former Roland Garros finalist Sloane Stephens or the in-form Yulia Putintseva. In the last 16 the world number one would face one of Veronika Kudermetova or Ekaterina Alexandrova with Madison Keys or Marketa Vondrousova awaiting in the quarter-finals. Once again Swiatek has missed Rybakina in her half of the draw as the Pole is overwhelming favourite to claim a third title in the Italian capital.

 

[2] Aryna Sabalenka

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Best Result: Semi-Final (2022)

After losing an epic final in Madrid, Sabalenka will aim to capitalize on her rejuvenated form as she bids for a first Rome title.

Sabalenka’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)

  • R1: BYE | H2H: N/A
  • R2: Yafan Wang | H2H: Sabalenka leads 1-0
  • R3: Dayana Yastremska [32] | H2H: Yastremska leads 3-0
  • R4: Elina Svitolina [16] | H2H: Sabalenka leads 2-1
  • QF: Ons Jabeur [8] | H2H: First Meeting
  • SF: Elena Rybakina [4] | H2H: Sabalenka leads 6-3
  • F: Iga Swiatek [1] | H2H: Swiatek leads 7-3

Sabalenka will begin her campaign against Yafan Wang before having a tricky third round obstacle against Dayana Yastremska. The world number two then could face either former Roland Garros semi-finalist Amanda Anisimova or former Rome champion Elina Svitolina in the last 16. A tricky quarter-final against Ons Jabeur or Jelena Ostapenko is the thing standing in her way of a semi-final rematch with Rybakina from Madrid. This is a tough draw for Sabalenka and the Australian Open champion will need to rely on her resilience and determination in order to go deep in Rome.

 

 

[3] Coco Gauff

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Best Result: Semi-Final (2021)

After a tough fourth round loss in Madrid, Gauff is looking to turn her form around with a strong performance in Rome.

Gauff’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)

  • R1: BYE | H2H: N/A
  • R2: Magdalena Frech | H2H: Gauff leads 1-0
  • R3: Barbora Krejcikova [25] | H2H: Krejcikova leads 1-0
  • R4: Liudmila Samsonova [15] | H2H: Gauff leads 3-0
  • QF: Qinwen Zheng [7] | H2H: First Meeting
  • SF: Iga Swiatek [1] | H2H: Swiatek leads 9-1
  • F: Aryna Sabalenka [2] | H2H: Gauff leads 4-3

Former Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova could provide Gauff with a stern third round test. The American will then face either Liudmila Samsonova, Paula Badosa or the in-form Mirra Andreeva in the last 16 with Qinwen Zheng or Daria Kasatkina awaiting in the quarter-finals. Overall it’s a decent draw for Gauff to make a deep run in but the American’s level of play under pressure will need to improve if she is to set up a semi-final showdown with Swiatek.

 

[4]  Elena Rybakina

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Best Result: Champion (2023)    

Rybakina looks to bounce back from semi-final heartbreak from Madrid by successfully defending her Rome title.

Rybakina’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)

  • R1: BYE | H2H: N/A
  • R2: Irina-Camelia Begu | H2H: Begu leads 1-0
  • R3: Elise Mertens [27] | H2H: Rybakina leads 4-1
  • R4: Danielle Collins [13] | H2H: Rybakina leads 3-2
  • QF: Maria Sakkari [5] | H2H: Rybakina leads 3-1
  • SF: Aryna Sabalenka [2] | H2H: Sabalenka leads 6-3
  • F: Iga Swiatek [1] | H2H: Rybakina leads 4-2

Rybakina will begin against two tricky tests against Irina-Camelia Begu and Elise Mertens before taking on in-form Danielle Collins in a mouth-watering last 16 clash. A quarter-final match against either Maria Sakkari or Victoria Azarenka could be a big test before a semi-final rematch with Sabalenka. This could be a step too far for Rybakina and will test the Kazakh’s stamina and it wouldn’t be surprising to see her withdraw at some point given how much tennis she’s played as she looks to conserve energy ahead of Roland Garros.

Rome starts on Tuesday 7th of May and concludes on Sunday 19th of May.

 

 

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