Wednesday tennis acca tips: Naomi Osaka to prove a point in Rome

Naomi Osaka is in action on the first day of the Italian Open at the famous Foro Italico in Rome.

Osaka hasn't enjoyed the best results on clay in the past but her recent efforts suggest a significant improvement.

Here we make our picks for a handful of matches in the Italian Open first round.

 

ATP Rome: Jack Draper vs Borna Coric | Pick: Coric

ATP Rome: Pavel Kotov vs Alex Michelsen | Pick: Kotov

ATP Rome: Stefano Napolitano vs Matteo Berrettini | Pick: Berrettini

ATP Rome: Zhizhen Zhang vs Daniel Elahi Galan | Pick: Galan

WTA Rome: Nadia Podoroska vs Sara Sorribes Tormo | Pick: Podoroska

WTA Rome: Naomi Osaka vs Clara Burel | Pick: Osaka

WTA Rome: Petra Martic vs Mayar Sherif | Pick: Sherif

WTA Rome: Sofia Kenin vs Lucia Bronzetti | Pick: Kenin

 

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ATP Rome: Jack Draper vs Borna Coric

Jack Draper faces a former Masters champion in his first match in Rome with the draw being unkind to the young Briton.

This will be the first time these players share the court for a singles match at any level.

Draper has the slightly better record on clay this season winning three and losing three but has just one more match win than Coric.

Coric's edge in experience could be telling but he won't have an easy time getting beyond the energetic Draper.

 

ATP Rome: Pavel Kotov vs Alex Michelsen

Pavel Kotov will also be out to use his experience on clay to his benefit against American prospect Alex Michelsen.

The American men haven't done well on clay as a group in recent times but there is a newfound belief that they can compete.

Just six rankings places separate these two with Kotov slightly ahead of his rival.

Michelsen has won just one of his six matches on clay this season and doesn't look likely to change that in this one.

 

ATP Rome: Stefano Napolitano vs Matteo Berrettini

Matteo Berrettini surprisingly trails journeyman compatriot Stefano Napolitano in their head-to-head rivalry.

The players have not met in an ATP Tour clash though with all three meetings coming on the Challenger scene.

They have not faced each other for six years and Berrettini has had the better time of it in the intervening years.

Berrettini has a chance to make a good start to his home event even if he faces an underdog countryman.

 

ATP Rome: Zhizhen Zhang vs Daniel Elahi Galan

Daniel Elahi Galan holds a 1-0 lead in his head-to-head against Zhizhen Zhang and that win came on clay.

Galan is the better player on the surface even if the Chinese star has moved past him in the rankings.

Neither player sports a winning record on clay this season but Galan's ability will shine through.

Zhang would need to play above himself to get through this battle and keep his Italian Open alive.

 

WTA Rome: Nadia Podoroska vs Sara Sorribes Tormo

Nadia Podoroska has a very good record on clay but her career head-to-head against Sara Sorribes Tormo is less impressive.

Sorribes Tormo has won both her matches against Podoroska but this will be their first meeting on clay.

Podoroska is 6-3 on clay this season, giving her s slight edge on the surface this term.

Sorribes Tormo was better in Madrid but that is her home event.

 

WTA Rome: Naomi Osaka vs Clara Burel

Naomi Osaka hasn't won more than two matches on clay since the 2019 season but she faces a player she will fancy getting past.

In Madrid, Osaka beet Greet Minnen before taking Liudmila Samsonova to three sets in an encouraging effort.

Osaka has done lots of work on her game on clay and will be a different prospect to face than in previous campaigns.

Burel has just one win in WTA 1000 events this season and could be overawed by the occasion.

 

WTA Rome: Petra Martic vs Mayar Sherif

Just one rankings place separates these two players before their maiden WTA Tour clash in Rome.

Sherif reached the final in Rouen last week in her best performance of the season and she should be able to recapture that form.

Martic hasn't played since Charleston and comes into this contest without a win on clay in 2024.

Sherif has some big wins and strings of victories in her recent runs and looks to be the clear favourite.

 

WTA Rome: Sofia Kenin vs Lucia Bronzetti

Former Grand Slam winner Sofia Kenin will have her hands full with home hope Lucia Bronzetti.

Kenin won the only previous meeting between these two which came in Adelaide in 2022.

Bronzetti has a lot more matches on clay behind her but Kenin will be a tougher prospect to beat than she may realise.

Kenin has endured a horror start to 2024 winning just two matches in 13 this year but might have turned the corner.