WTA Rome outright winner odds, predictions and tennis betting tips: Clay-court queen Swiatek to rule in Rome again

When does WTA Rome start?

WTA Rome begins at the Foro Italico, in Rome, Italy, on Tuesday, May 6.

Where to watch WTA Rome in the UK

Live on Sky Sports Tennis, from 10am Tuesday

Best bets for WTA Rome

Iga Swiatek
2pts 2-1 bet365

Jelena Ostapenko
0.5pt each-way 40-1 bet365

WTA Rome predictions

Having made four straight finals on the WTA Tour and been crowned champion in Madrid last time out, world number one Aryna Sabalenka is sure to have her supporters as she bids to reign supreme in Rome.

However, the Belarusian could be upstaged by clay-court queen Iga Swiatek. The prolific Pole is aiming to rule in Rome for a fourth time in the last five seasons.

The manner of Swiatek’s 6-1 6-1 semi-final defeat to Coco Gauff in Madrid on Thursday is a concern, but earlier wins over Linda Noskova, Diana Shnaider and Madison Keys suggest she is in excellent touch and that drubbing may be best put down as a rare off-day.

When on song, Swiatek is simply irresistible on this slower terrain. She has won the French Open on four occasions despite being only 23 and she swatted aside Sabalenka 6-2 6-3 in last season’s Italian Open final.

The other positive factor surrounding the chances of Swiatek is that she avoids Sabalenka, Gauff and rising star Mirra Andreeva until the final, with Elina Svitolina and Keys looking her toughest tests before a potential last-four rumble.

Swiatek has lost only three of her last 32 clay-court matches and her below-par display against Gauff in the Spanish capital may mean that she is going off at a bigger price for victory in Rome than should be the case.

If the Pole fails to deliver then it could be worth having an each-way interest in Jelena Ostapenko, who thrives under these slower conditions and is finding more consistency the older she gets.

The Latvian is also a former French Open champion, having claimed her Grand Slam prize in 2017, and it is hard to ignore the form of her title win at the Stuttgart Open just over two weeks ago.

In winning her ninth career title, Ostapenko defeated Sabalenka and Swiatek on her way to glory and she has a decent record in this tournament with a semi-final appearance in 2023 and three more quarter-final efforts to her name.

The 17th seed is in the bottom half of the draw alongside Swiatek, so avoids the red-hot Sabalenka and her Madrid Open final victim Gauff, and she could be set for a deep run at nice odds given the sheer power she possesses.

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