On the men’s side, Novak, Rafa, and Roger will all play on Campo Centrale, while names like Dominic Thiem and Juan Martin Del Potro will take to the Grandstand. On the women’s side, World No.1 Naomi Osaka is scheduled on Centrale, while Petra and Simona join Madrid Champion Kiki Bertens on the Grandstand. In today’s highlighted matches, we’ll take a look at both Madrid champions and the impressive young opposition they’ll face on Wednesday.
Novak Djokovic (1) vs. Denis Shapovalov
This will be the first match of the evening session. These two just met for the first time earlier this year, when Djokovic defeated Shapovalov in four sets at the Australian Open. A seemingly rejuvenated Novak paired with the terra baute will an extremely tough combination for Denis to overcome. Mind you, Shapovalov can play on the clay: he was a semifinalist last year in Madrid. But his win on Monday over Pablo Carreno Busta was his first of the European clay swing, having gone 0-3 at his three previous events. Djokovic’s defense should prove to be too much for Shapovalov’s shot-making skills.
Kiki Bertens (4) vs. Amanda Anisimova (LL)
This will be the first match of the day session on the Grandstand. Bertens finds herself at a career-high ranking of No.4 in the world coming off her title run last week in Madrid, where she consecutively defeated three top 10 players. Kiki is now one of the top favorites for Roland Garros. The 17-year-old Anisimova was a breakout star at this year’s Australian Open, as she reached the round of 16 and upset Aryna Sabalenka. And last month in Bogota, she won her first WTA title on the clay of Bogota. She lost to Kristina Mladenovic in qualifying, which there’s no shame in, and then defeated an Italian wild card in the first round as a lucky loser. Bertens cannot afford to experience a Madrid hangover against this up-and-coming star.
Other Notable Matches on Wednesday in Rome:
- In a rematch from just last week in Madrid, Naomi Osaka (1) vs. Dominika Cibulkova. Osaka has won all three previous meetings, having never dropped a set.
- Rafael Nadal (2), who is shockingly without a title on clay this season, vs. Jeremy Chardy. Nadal is 2-0 against the veteran Frenchman.
- Stuttgart Champion Petra Kvitova (2) vs. Yulia Putintseva. Kvitova won their only previous meeting, though it was an over-three hour three-set match.
- In his first match in Rome since 2016, Roger Federer (3) vs. Joao Sousa of Portugal.
- Simona Halep (3) vs. Marketa Vondrousova. Just two months ago in Indian Wells, the 19-year-old upset the reigning French Open champion.
- Dominic Thiem (5) vs. Fernando Verdasco. Thiem has never defeated Verdasco in three attempts, including a match on clay last year in Rio de Janeiro.
- French Open Finalist Sloane Stephens vs. Johanna Konta. Konta took their only previous meeting earlier this year on a hart court in Brisbane.
- Juan Martin Del Potro (7) vs. David Goffin. Del Potro lost in his singles return from injury last week, while Goffin must be feeling confident coming off his defeat yesterday of Stan Wawrinka.
