Men’s second round singles action concludes on Saturday, while women’s third round singles action begins.
Carlos Alcaraz will make his Rome debut on Saturday, against fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas. But the day’s most interesting men’s encounter may be Daniil Medvedev facing Emil Ruusuvuori, who almost defeated Alcaraz in Madrid. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, and many other ATP top seeds will also play their opening matches on Saturday.
On the WTA side, 2013 Rome finalist Victoria Azarenka will take on 2016 Rome finalist Madison Keys. And with the top seeds on this side of the draw, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula, both already eliminated, there is plenty of opportunity for new names to break through this fortnight. Other players still alive in this half include Caroline Garcia and Coco Gauff.
Throughout the tournament, this preview will analyze the day’s two most prominent matches, while highlighting the other notable matches on the schedule. Saturday’s play begins at 11:00am local time.
Victoria Azarenka (14) vs. Madison Keys (19) – Not Before 5:00pm on Grand Stand Arena
Azarenka is just 13-9 this season, and 2-2 on clay. She’s 25-12 lifetime in Rome, having advanced to the quarterfinals or better in six of her last 11 appearances. In the last round, she defeated the other half of the 2017 US Open final, Sloane Stephens, in straight sets.
Keys is 15-6 this year, after battling illness multiple times. She revealed to Tennis Channel on Thursday that she got shingles inside her mouth after the Australian Open, causing her to lose 15 pounds in the span of three weeks. She then suffered from food poisoning at Indian Wells. Now back on court, Madison ousted Magdalena Frech in the first round in straight sets, and is now 12-7 in Rome.
Azarenka leads their head-to-head 4-1, though Keys took their most recent meeting, earlier this season in Dubai. In their only clay encounter, two years ago at Roland Garros, Vika prevailed 6-2, 6-2. On this surface, and considering Madison’s health battles, Azarenka should be favored on Saturday.
Daniil Medvedev (3) vs. Emil Russuvuori – Fourth on Pietrangeli
Medvedev is 33-5 on the year, and 4-2 on clay. However, he’s 0-3 lifetime at Foro Italico, with losses to Robin Haase, Nick Kyrgios, and Aslan Karatsev, who he also lost to recently in Madrid.
Ruusuvuori is 17-4 this season, and 5-4 on clay. The 24-year-old impressed in Madrid by taking the first set off Alcaraz, before succumbing to the eventual champion in three. Emil survived a scare of his own in the first round here, outlasting Ugo Humbert in a third-set tiebreak.
Their only previous encounter occurred last October on an indoor hard court in Astana, where Medvedev was victorious 6-3, 6-2. But can Daniil claim his first-ever victory in Rome? Against a tough, up-and-coming opponent like Russuvuori, an upset would be far from shocking.
Other Notable Matches on Saturday:
Albert Ramos-Vinolas vs. Carlos Alcaraz (2) – Alcaraz is now 29-2 on the year, and 19-1 on clay, coming off back-to-back titles in Barcelona and Madrid. Ramos-Vinolas is just 6-15 this season at all levels. Carlitos is 3-0 against Albert, which includes a five-set victory last year at Roland Garros.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) vs. Nuno Borges – Tsitsipas is 21-7 in 2023, and 9-5 lifetime in Rome, where he is the defending runner-up. Borges is 18-10 at all levels this year, which includes two Challenger titles on hard courts.
Saturday’s full Order of Play is here.
