Week 20 - WTA Premier 5 ($3.45M) - Rome, Italy (Clay)

flamingowings · All-time great

Week 20 - WTA Premier 5 ($3.45M) - Rome, Italy (Clay)

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Can't complain about that 1st round draw, but it will get tougher should she progress (as you'd expect in a P5 draw, with Jo just getting in directly via withdrawals). Stephens (bye) is due to face the winner, both Williams' and Halep are in the section as well.

Jan · Hall of fame

Jo's match underway.
She has an early break 2-0*

Nix · Futures level

6-4 and 3-0 in the second for Jo with two breaks of serve.

JonH · All-time great

She could beat the Madrid scoreline at this rate

JonH · All-time great

Same score ! Well done jo

Michael D · All-time great

R64: Joanna KONTA (GBR) 42 beat Alison RISKE (USA) 52 (CH:36 May 17) 6-4 6-1

R32: Joanna KONTA (GBR) 42 vs Sloane STEPHENS (USA) [7] 8 (CH:3 July 18)

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Stephens is the one high seed where you just don't know what to expect. Had it have been the likes of Kvitova, Halep, Bertens, Svitolina (when fit, there's question marks there) and even Barty no, who played well on clay last week, you'd think there wouldn't be too much hope of progressing, but there could be an opportunity here. I know she is defending L16 points, but given her 6 wins on this surface already, I'd consider this a bit of a free hit.

LordBrownof · Futures level

This is certainly the more significant of the two wins, simply because Rome is a much better indicator of clay form going into RG than Madrid. The climate and surface are much closer to Paris, whereas Madrid's altitude makes it a little misleading (see Kvitova and Madrid).

My one wish for Jo this year is a round or two at RG. On this form, if the weather is hot and a decent draw, she's got every chance of making a run.

the addict · Tennis legend

I don't wish to look too far ahead, but couldn't really let this pass. Serena has withdrawn, and given Venus a walkover into the third round to play the winner of ........Jo and Sloane.

seagull · Hall of fame

Draw really opened up. Just has to beat Stephens, Venus, Halep and Osaka to get to final now!

ROSAMUND · Futures level

seagull wrote:
Draw really opened up. Just has to beat Stephens, Venus, Halep and Osaka to get to final now!

I don't think that's going to happen somehow or other. Before we go any further Sloane Stephens is after all the runner up in Paris in 2018 and could easily have been champion.,

Julia Carrot · All-time great

No play yet in Rome and forecast not good

the addict · Tennis legend

Looks like it might be a total washout

Julia Carrot · All-time great

the addict wrote:
Looks like it might be a total washout

Oh well, hope they cancel and Jo doesnt have to hang around. And here we can bask in our glorious weather!!