WTA Internazionali BNL d'Italia Betting: Sharapova bidding for hat-trick of Rome titles

 

With just two weeks to go until the world's stars descend on Paris for the French Open, the leading ladies in the game head to the clay of Rome hoping to continue  their preparations with triumph in the Eternal City.

 

Russian ace Maria Sharapova heads to the Italian capital looking to make it a hat-trick of tournament wins, but while she sits out the first round having been handed a  bye, there is plenty of action elsewhere in the draw.

 

The likes of Victoria Azarenka, Na Li and Angelique Kerber will all await the conclusion of the first round to find out who they will face to begin their tournament,  but we take a closer look at some potential upsets on the first two days of play.

 

Perhaps the pick of the round is the clash between Venus Williams and British hopeful Laura Robson. If further spice were needed for this match, then it comes in the  form of the winner facing Serena Williams. With a potential meeting between the Williams-sisters arriving so early, it undoubtedly opens up the draw.

 

Robson has yet to face the elder of the Williams sisters in her career to date, but the 19-year-old will be buoyed by her win over Agnieszka Radwanska in Madrid, which  will certainly give her confidence of upsetting the odds.

 

Elsewhere, home favourite Roberta Vinci will receive a great atmosphere in front of a partisan crowd but may find life difficult when she takes on Elena Vesnina. The  pair have met five times, with the Russian winning four including their clash at the Australian Open earlier this year.

 

Both players have had a solid year thus far, sharing a title apiece, but history favours Vesnina and she will step into the lion's den hoping to silence the Roman  faithful.

 

Another Italian hoping to impress on her homeland will be Flavia Pennetta, who was handed a wildcard to take part having struggled through the year. She faces American  world number 17 Sloane Stephens in the first round, and despite having beaten her at the same venue in the round of 32 last year, she may have her hands full.

 

Similarly, fellow Italian wildcard entrant Nastassja Burnett will be hoping to please the crowd when she faces Alize Cornet. The Frenchwoman isn't having a  particularly impressive year to date, with a record of 12-10, and could have an uncomfortable afternoon against a youngster desperate to impress.

 

The first round draw is scattered with top seeds, including Madrid semi-finalist Ana Ivanovic who should have few problems in dispatching Urszula Radwanska. Meanwhile  Carolina Wozniacki takes on Bojana Jovanovski and two-time champion Jelena Jankovic should overcome Tsvetana Pironkova.

 

However, eleventh seed Nadia Petrova might find life a little more testing, when she takes on one of the few Spaniards in the draw in Carla Suarez Navarro. If there is  to be an early exit for a seeded player, this match may well provide the shock of the round considering the Russian's poor form this year.

 

It promises to be an intriguing week of tennis in Rome, and as the world's best enter the fray in the second round there is undoubtedly plenty to look forward to.

 

Recommended Bets

Back Burnett to beat Cornet @ 2.66

Back Navarro to beat Petrova @ 1.96

Back Stephens to beat Pennetta @ 2.52

Back Robson to beat V. Williams @ 2.46

Back Vesnina to beat Vinci @ 3.00

 

Bet HERE

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