Day 4 at the WTA 1000 in Rome will feature the debut of many of the seeds, including some Top 10 players and former Grand Slam champions. It’s the first edition of this tournament played over two weeks, which gives a different dynamic than usual to the second round, with unseeded players having the confidence of a match win under their belt as they try to upset the seeds.
WTA Rome Day 4 Predictions
Daria Kasatkina vs Lisa Pigato
Head-to-head: first meeting
On paper, this is the most one-sided matchup of the day by a distance, with one of the best players in the world in Kasatkina taking on an opponent ranked outside the Top 400. Kasatkina hasn’t really been playing at Top 10 level so far in 2023 but she shouldn’t have many issues to advance here.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Barbora Krejcikova vs Danka Kovinic
Head-to-head: Krejcikova 1-0 Kovinic
Krejcikova won in a relatively comfortable three-setter (6-0 in the decider) when the pair faced in Madrid a couple weeks ago and she’s once again a comfortable favorite here. She needs some strong results in the coming months to make it into the top 10 and this seems like a good opportunity to do it given her draw.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
Marketa Vondrousova vs Bianca Andreescu
Head-to-head: first meeting
Andreescu might be a former Slam champion, but those days seem far behind her and it’s actually Vondrousova who comes in as the favorite here. She has been playing well so far this season and her ranking of #70 doesn’t really represent her current level accurately and should rise soon.
Prediction: Voundrousova in 3
Sorana Cirstea vs Jelena Ostapenko
Head-to-head: Ostapenko 2-0 Cirstea
Ostapenko has finally been showing signs of resurgence lately and is back to the Top 20. The 2017 Roland Garros champion will take on a veteran of the circuit in Sorana Cirstea; the Romanian is likely to cause her some difficulties but Ostapenko should be able to advance.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
