The year’s second Grand Slam is just around the corner, but first the WTA Tour heads to Rome. With the final clay court Masters 1000 event of the season occurring in an expanded format for the first time in 2023, the top women in tennis are all vying to grab vital momentum heading into Roland Garros. But will it be World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka who dominate the draw at the Rome Masters 2023 again?
With Swiatek and Sabalenka contesting the past two finals in WTA events, the narrative heading into this tournament is fascinating. Their meeting was only the third time in 40 years that two women met in consecutive finals; another meeting in Rome could be critical ahead of Roland Garros. Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula and Karolina Pliskova will all be looking to shatter that narrative however as they put together their own title runs.
We break down the best bets to place on the Rome Masters 2023 with the latest odds from bookmaker William Hill.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 9th, 2:00 A.M. (GMT)
While Iga Swiatek lost to Aryna Sabalenka over the weekend, her odds of winning the Rome Masters actually strengthened slightly compared to pre-Madrid. With a pay out of 2.00, she’s by far the favourite—well ahead of Sabalenka’s 6.50. Behind these two leaders in the betting odds, Jessica Pegula trails as third favourite on 15.00 with Barbora Krejcikova and Elena Rybakina not far behind on 17.00 and 21.00.
There’s real merit in betting on Swiatek here despite the meager return her odds offer. The Pole has won this event the past two years in a row and is in fine form in 2023. Yes, she lost to Sabalenka recently, but it was a heck of a match and took the Belarusian’s best tennis. Across her last five events, Iga Swiatek has made the final or better on four occasions. With a record of 25-5 for the year and 9-1 on clay, the 21-year-old poses a formidable force in Rome.
Those who aren’t a fan of betting on the favourite may want to consider two dark horse options: Elena Rybakina and Karolina Pliskova. Rybakina is 22-7 for the year with one title but has a knack for taking down big names in 2023. She’s beaten Swiatek twice as well as Sabalenka and Pegula once each. Should she play her best tennis here, she’ll be hard to stop.
Pliskova, on the other hand, has made three of the past four finals in Rome, winning in 2019. The former World No. 1 is not in her best form but returning to the courts where she’s found such success in the past might be just what the doctor order.
