PREVIEW | WTA Rome Open 2025 - Day 3: Iga Swiatek opens account, Jessica Pegula tackles all-American clash
WTAThursday, 08 May 2025 at 09:30
The WTA Rome Masters 2025 continues its march. The prestigious clay-court tournament held in the Italian capital presents a line-up full of interesting matches on May 8. Paula Badosa and Naomi Osaka will face each other in the second round in one of the most important duels. Iga Swiatek goes against the local Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
The clay court of the Foro Italico will witness some high-level matches on Thursday. The day promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats with the best players on the circuit in action;
Paula Badosa makes her return to competition after withdrawing from the Madrid Masters. On the other hand, Iga Swiatek starts her title defense against local wildcard Cocciaretto. The number 6 and favorite of the Roman public, Jasmine Paolini, will be playing against New Zealand's Lulu Sun. While Jessica Pegula faces compatriot Ashlyn Krueger.
Also top ties include Peyton Stearns v Anna Kalinskaya and also Petra Kvitova v Ons Jabeur to start the day.
Paula Badosa - Naomi Osaka
The main match of the second round at the Foro Italico will be between Japan's Naomi Osaka and Spain's Paula Badosa. The former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion is looking to continue adding hours on clay, after a failed performance at the Madrid Open but recovering good feelings after winning the WTA 125 in Saint Malo.
On Badosa's side, unfortunately injuries have not allowed him to continue a season that started spectacularly in January, reaching the semifinals of a major tournament for the first time at the Australian Open;
For both players, a victory against an important rival can be very beneficial to gain confidence ahead of Roland Garros. The Spaniard, ranked number 9, said a few days ago that she is aware that she will have a short career but true to her fighting spirit she will try to get more minutes on the court.
Curiously, Rome will witness the first meeting between the two. The surface favors Badosa, more accustomed to playing on clay. She will not have to be careless, as the Japanese comes with more rhythm after winning the weekend in France.
*Since writing, Badosa has withdrawn from the tournament so Naomi Osaka now faces Viktorija Golubic in her second round clash.
Match Info:
Naomi Osaka - Paula Badosa
Start time (local): Thu, 8 May, 11:00 AM
Start time (your time): Thu, 8 May, 5:00 PM
Court: Grand Stand Arena
Tournament: Internazionali BNL d'Italia
Round: Round of 64
Head-to-Head
| Osaka | Badosa | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 0 | 0 |
| Win Streak | 0 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 48 | 10 |
| Race Ranking | 53 | 15 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 52 (-4) | 10 |
| Live Race Ranking | 51 (+2) | 15 |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 27 (16 Oct 1997) | 27 (15 Nov 1997) |
| Birthplace | Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan | New York City, United States |
| Residence | Beverly Hills, California, United States | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| Height | 5'10" (180cm) | 5'10" (180cm) |
| Weight | 152lbs (69kg) | 154lbs (70kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2014 | 2013 |
| Coach | Patrick Mouratoglou (2024–) | Pol Toledo Bagué |
| YTD W/L | 14-3 (82%) | 12-5 (71%) |
| YTD Titles | 1 | - |
| Career Titles | 7 | 4 |
| Prize Money | $22,047,163 - 21st in all-time rankings | $8,802,690 |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
First meeting |
||
Iga Swiatek - Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Poland's Iga Swiatek (2) is not having her best season in this 2025, dragging a title drought dating back to Roland Garros 2024. However, she has managed to maintain her position in the rankings despite the good results of her pursuers. Swiatek has not been able to win but has remained almost always in the fight, going deep in almost all the competitions in which she has participated.
The Ancona native, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, will try to stand up to an opponent who has dominated the clay court tour for the last four years but who is at her "weakest" moment. The 52nd-ranked player will not have an easy task against the former No. 1, who arrives with wounded pride and the pressure of revalidating her crown in the Italian capital if she does not want to lose her place on the podium of the world's best. It will be the first time that both players will face each other.
Match Info:
Elisabetta Cocciaretto - Iga Swiatek
Start time (local): Thu, 8 May, 1:00 PM
Start time (your time): Thu, 8 May, 7:00 PM
Court: Campo Centrale
Tournament: Internazionali BNL d'Italia
Round: Round of 64
Head-to-Head
| Cocciaretto | Swiatek | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 0 | 0 |
| Win Streak | 0 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 82 | 2 |
| Race Ranking | 111 | 4 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 82 | 4 (-2) |
| Live Race Ranking | 104 (+7) | 4 |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 24 (25 Jan 2001) | 23 (31 May 2001) |
| Birthplace | Ancona, Italy | Warsaw, Poland |
| Residence | - | Raszyn, Poland |
| Height | - | 5'9" (176cm) |
| Weight | - | 143lbs (65kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | - | 2016 |
| Coach | Fausto Scolari | Wim Fissette (October 2024 – present) |
| YTD W/L | 7-12 (37%) | 25-8 (76%) |
| YTD Titles | - | - |
| Career Titles | 1 WTA, 3 WTA Challengers | 22 |
| Prize Money | US$ 2,536,826 | US $34,842,891 - 8th in all-time rankings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
First meeting |
||
Jessica Pegula - Ashlyn Krueger
One of the immediate pursuers of Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, will try to take her chance to get into the top 3 players on the planet. She will face her compatriot Ashlyn Krueger, in a duel that marks the last US Open finalist as a great favorite.
However, nothing is certain as Pegula, one of the most consistent players on the Tour, had an unexpected setback in Madrid, losing to the rising Japanese Moyuka Uchijima. Jessica is the second best American player in this tour on clay behind Coco Gauff, finalist in the Spanish Masters.
Krueger will be looking to disrupt Pegula's pace of play and thus achieve the feat, as the 31-year-old veteran has dominated her in all four of their previous meetings.
Match Info:
Ashlyn Krueger - Jessica Pegula
Start time (local): Thu, 8 May, 5:00 PM
Start time (your time): Thu, 8 May, 11:00 PM
Court: Grand Stand Arena
Tournament: Internazionali BNL d'Italia
Round: Round of 64
Head-to-Head
| Krueger | Pegula | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 0 | 4 |
| Win Streak | 0 | 4 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 37 | 4 |
| Race Ranking | 22 | 5 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 35 (+2) | 2 (+2) |
| Live Race Ranking | 22 | 5 |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 21 (7 May 2004) | 31 (24 Feb 1994) |
| Birthplace | Springfield, Missouri | Buffalo, New York, US |
| Residence | Dallas, Texas | Boca Raton, Florida, US |
| Height | - | 5'6" (170cm) |
| Weight | - | 154lbs (70kg) |
| Plays | Right (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | - | 2012 |
| Coach | Michael Joyce (2021-) | Mark Knowles, Mark Merklein (2024–) |
| YTD W/L | 15-10 (60%) | 25-8 (76%) |
| YTD Titles | - | 2 |
| Career Titles | 1 | 8 |
| Prize Money | US$ 2,107,709 | US$ 17,945,524 - 32nd in all-time rankings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
J Pegula d A Krueger WTA Adelaide 1 - Quarterfinal6-4 | 2-0 9 Jan 2025 |
||
|
J Pegula d A Krueger WTA Toronto - Round of 166-2 | 6-4 9 Aug 2024 |
||
|
J Pegula d A Krueger Wimbledon - Round of 1286-2 | 6-0 2 Jul 2024 |
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J Pegula d A Krueger WTA Seoul - Round of 166-3 | 6-1 12 Oct 2023 |
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Other outstanding matches to watch
Elina Svitolina has been sensational so far this year and in Rome starts against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. The Ukrainian has been a frequent runner into the latter stages this clay court season and hopes that in the Italian capital will not be the exception.
The World Number Five, Madison Keys, will also be making her debut at the Foro Italico. Her opponent will be the French Varvara Gracheva. The Australian champion reached the quarter-finals in Madrid, so it would be no surprise if she repeats or even surpasses what she achieved in the Caja Mágica in Rome.
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