WTA Rome Day 5 Predictions Including Naomi Osaka vs Daria Kasatkina

Sorana Cirstea vs Marketa Vondrousova

Head-to-head: Cirstea 3-1 Vondorusova

Cirstea has won the last three meetings between these two. However, they were all tight matches and none were on clay. The Romanian is at her most dangerous when she has time on her shots, which 2023 Wimbledon champion Vondrousova will give her. A source of hope for the Czech is that her craftiness is more likely to work on clay, with her drop shot likely to be an important stroke in this matchup. This is a tough contest to call, but Vondrousova is backed to stop her losing run against Cirstea by the narrowest of margins.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 3

Iga Swiatek vs Yulia Putintseva

Head-to-head: Swiatek 3-0 Putintseva

Putintseva is in excellent form. After a strong North American hard court swing, she was one point away from reaching the semifinal in Madrid against Elena Rybakina, before dismantling Sloane Stephens in the opening round in Rome. Nonetheless, her chances are very slim here. Swiatek won their three previous meetings on hard courts very comfortably. Putintseva might be slightly more competitive on clay by using her excellent drop shot, which will take the world No. 1 into an area of the court she does not like as much. But that will not be enough to stop Swiatek triumphing again.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2

Naomi Osaka vs Daria Kasatkina

Head-to-head: Osaka 1-0 Kasatkina

These two have not played since the 2018 Indian Wells Open final. Osaka’s opening two matches in Rome have been very encouraging on her least favourite surface. Kasatkina does sometimes get overwhelmed by very powerful players like Osaka. Despite this, her best chance of beating Osaka is on clay. Her heavy spins and superb athleticism could expose Osaka’s weaker movement on the dirt. This should be an entertaining match, but Kasatkina’s grit and tactical acumen may just give her the edge in Rome.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 3