Iga Swiatek tops Italian Open draw, while Emma Raducanu takes on former US Open champion
- Seb Sternik
- 7 May 2022
The draw for the upcoming Italian Open has been revealed, with Iga Swiatek looking to maintain her unbeaten run and Emma Raducanu hoping to capture some pre-Roland Garros form.
Swiatek, alongside the other top eight seeds, will enjoy an opening round bye. The Pole has recently climbed to the top of the WTA world rankings and is looking to defend her Italian Open title.
The world number one will kick off her campaign in round two against the winner of an all-American clash between Shelby Rogers and Alison Riske.
The 20-year-old opted to miss the Mutua Madrid Open in order to rest a shoulder injury. When she returns, the Pole will be looking to maintain her 23-match winning run.
The player is still undefeated at WTA 1000 events this year, winning tournaments in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami and Stuttgart.
Swiatek could take on Victoria Azarenka in the round-of-16 - a player who reached the final of this tournament back in 2013.
Battle of the US Open champions
Reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu will take on the 2019 Flushing Meadows champion Bianca Andreescu in the opening round.
The Brit is yet to progress past the second round of a tournament this year and has also made changes to her coaching set-up.
Raducanu bowed out of the Madrid Open in the third round following a 2-1 loss to Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina - a valiant display considering she struggled with a back problem.
The winner of the match will face either Sara Sorribes Tormo or another Flushing Meadows star in Naomi Osaka.
Rest of the field
Former Italian Open champion Simona Halep, who has won nine singles titles on clay, will kick off the tournament against Alize Cornet.
The two players met earlier this year at the Australian Open, with Cornet knocking out her Romanian opponent to make her first Grand Slam quarter-final.
Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins will await the winner of that match in round two.
Another interesting tussle sees Coco Gauff take on Angelique Kerber in the opening round.
Kerber won their only head-to-head meeting, which came at Wimbledon last year.
