Preview: Serena in Doubt at Power-packed WTA Rome

by Staff | May 11th, 2014, 1:30 pm
  • No Comments

The wounded are piling up.

Victoria Azarenka is out of Rome with a foot injury. Caroline Wozniacki withdrew citing a knee injury, allowing Canadian comer Genie Bouchard to sneak into the seedings.
ADHEREL
World No. 1 Serena Williams is the top seed this week at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, otherwise known as the Italian Open, but she may not even set foot on the clay after withdrawing from Madrid last week with a thigh injury.

After Wozniacki’s withdrawal the seeds in Rome feature 15 of the Top 16 on the WTA Rankings.

Maria Sharapova, who once struggled mightily on clay, is one of if not the favorite after last week winning Madrid, and with Serena’s injury hanging over the event.

“I am planning to play in Rome,” said a hopeful Serena. “Fortunately, I have a bye (in the first round) so will have an extra day of rest. For now, I will take it one day at a time and take advantage of some extra rest.”

Here is a look at the seeds and the floaters in the draw planning upsets:

Seeds: Serena Williams, Li Na, Agnieszka Radwanska, Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova, Jelena Jankovic, Angelique Kerber, Maria Sharapova, Dominika Cibulkova, Sara Errani, Ana Ivanovic, Flavia Pennetta, Carla Suarez Navarro, Sabine Lisicki, Sloane Stephens, Eugenie Bouchard

Floaters: Andrea Petkovic, Bojana Jovanovski, Venus Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Francesca Schiavone, Sam Stosur

Notes: A number of early testers for seeded players with (1) Serena Williams after a bye vs. Petkovic, (16) Stephens who has shown she can lose to anyone this year vs. Jovanovski, (13) Suarez Navarro looking at Venus Williams in the second round, (6) Jankovic likely starting against the former world No. 2 Kuznetsova, (17) Bouchard vs. the former French champ Schiavone, and (15) Lisicki starting vs. the former US Open winner Stosur…

Wildcards went to Italians Nastassja Burnett, Camila Giorgi and Karin Knapp…

Qualifying into the main draw were German Mona Barthel, Swiss Belinda Bencic, Czech Petra Cetkovska, American Lauren Davis, Aussie Casey Dellacqua, American Christina McHale, Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig, and South African Chanelle Scheepers…

Argentina’s Paula Ormaechea gained entry to the main draw as a lucky loser when Caroline Woznacki pulled citing a knee injury…

Pulling before the event were Victoria Azarenka and Kaia Kanepi…

Former champs in the field are Serena Williams (2013,’02), Sharapova (2012-11), Jankovic (2008-07), and Venus Williams (1999).

 


You Might Like:
Serena Wins and Says She’s No. 1 Always; Friday Rome Preview
Serena Williams Ate Dog Food Then Got Sick [Video]
Serena Gets Revenge On Kuznetsova, Reaches Rome Semis; Muguruza, Keys Collide
Serena Williams Is Engaged To Reddit Founder Alexis Ohanian
Players To Beat Both Venus And Serena Williams In Same Tournament [Chart]

Don't miss any tennis action, stay connected with Tennis-X

Get the FREE TX daily newsletter

Comments are closed.

Top story: Alcaraz Too Good For Medvedev, Defends Indian Wells Masters Title