WTA Rome Tennis Betting Odds, Tips and Preview

Williams to continue clay court dominance?

Serena Williams (USA)
Serena Williams (USA) © GEPA pictures

WTA Rome Tennis Betting Info
The Internazionali BNL d’Italia will be a welcome stop for nine of the world’s top ten at the very least, as the players move back on to familiar red clay. They were faced for the first time ever with blue clay in Madrid last week, a surface which proved to be a lot slicker, and therefore didn’t have the same kind of control as that of the usual clay surface. So the players will get some better grip underfoot this week and also, the slower surface does take some sting out of the big servers, and this is where the clay court specialists often come to light. It is just two weeks now until the start of the French Open.

WTA Rome Tennis Betting Defending Champion
Maria Sharapova was in tremendous form here last year. She hasn’t been terrific through her career at landing clay court titles, but she did it will style in Rome last year. She had her forehand working beautifully as she powered her way to her biggest clay court title. She beat Sam Stosur in the final here last year, and with a good season under her belt again this year, the Russian queen should go well. Sharapova has been knocking on the door of so many titles this season, and has only picked up one, and you have to feel a bit sorry for the Russian. She is the toughest player on the circuit and really her tennis has deserved more. She was steamrollered last week by Serena Williams in Madrid, but will avoid the American until the final this time around. Sam Stosur is waiting as a potential quarter final opponent, but generally a very, very good draw for Sharapova. It would be some defence, and she is trading at 4/1 with Bet365.

WTA Rome Tennis Betting Favourite
Serena Williams remains unbeaten on clay this season, after demolishing Maria Sharapova and world number one Victoria Azarenka on her way to the title (her second on clay this season). It was a tremendous showing of force and power, and she seemed to get a good enough purchase on the awkward blue clay. Because the blue clay was faster than red clay, she also had the power in her serve to call upon. That should be dialled back just a little this week, but she is overwhelming favourite to lift the title here at a price of 2/1 with Bet365. Williams is seeded ninth and sits in a quarter along with Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki. A semi final clash against Azarenka could be on the cards in a repeat of Madrid’s final on Sunday. Williams is 22-2 for the season and is running at 13-0 on clay this season. Because Williams has such a strong head to head against Azarenka and Sharapova, her main challengers, things are pointing towards back to back titles for her.

Other Contenders
Victoria Azarenka, who had four titles under her belt this season, and reached the final of Madrid last week, is one of the best players in the game at the moment. She has rounded out to such a solid all-round star, it is likely that she will go close again, and Sunday’s defeat against Williams could push her on. The most likely to take out Serena Williams at the moment at least.

Could be worth eyeing up Sam Stosur as well, because the Aussie is a very flat and very good clay court player. She uses the court speed to match up well against bigger opponents and is suited to the conditions. She is one of the players who Williams seems to have trouble finding her feet against, and the scrappy Aussie could spring a surprise. She is in Sharapova’s quarter of the draw though, so going to have her work cut out for her.

Petra Kvitova may be looking at the draw and be fancying a good run. The Czechs star has been out of sorts for most of the season because of injury, but she hit back with a semi final appearance in Stuttgart, on clay, prior to a disappointing exit at Madrid. Still, we think that you can dismiss a lot of what happened in Madrid, and Kvitova’s quarter is open enough to have a very good run at the semi finals, where she could run into Sharapova.

Best Outside Bet
Both Stosur and Kvitova are good outside shots beyond Williams, Azarenka and Sharapova. Going to look a couple of Germans for longer outside bets though. Firstly, Julia Goerges, who we have seen pull out some massive clay court tournaments before could be worth looking at, so too Angelique Kerber who has found a whole new level to her game this season. Georges is out at 66/1, Kerber in at 14/1 with Bet365.

 

Latest WTA Rome Tennis Betting Prices at Bet365
Serena Williams 2/1, Azarenka 7/2, Sharapova 9/2, Kvitova 6/1, Stosur 14/1, Kerber 14/1, Na Li 22/1, Agnieszka Radwanska 28/1, Wozniacki 33/1

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