Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams are probably the most iconic figures in women’s tennis right now and unfortunately, both are not expected to play in Rome.
The Internazionali d’Italia will be played soon after the Us Open after the huge reshuffled of the tennis schedules following the Coronavirus pandemic. It’s usually tricky for tennis players to adjust from one surface to the other and the quick hard courts in New York are completely different than the extremely slow clay courts in Rome.
Why Naomi Osaka will not play in Rome
Naomi has just reached the final in New York and she has been nursing a hamstring injury for various weeks to even withdraw from the final of the Western & Southern Open. It’s highly improbable that the Japanese champion will fly straight to Rome after the US Open. She might very well rest before heading to Paris and try to win her first major on clay.
Why Serena Williams will probably skip Rome
Serena is now playing the semifinal of the US Open and she is also not expected to fly to Rome after a long run at the American major. Serena loves Rome that is also the place where she met her husband Alexis for the first time. However, Serena needs to rest before getting ready for the Roland Garros and she also has the additional worry of accommodating her daughter Olympia that is always with her during the tournaments. Heading straight to Paris after the Us Open seems to be the better choice for her.
Osaka at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2020
Now ranked no.9, Osaka has a 15-3 win-loss record in 2020. The Japanese is playing at the U.S. Open where she defeated Misaki Doi 6-2 5-7 6-2, Camila Giorgi 6-1 6-2, Marta Kostyuk 6-3 6-74 6-2, Anett Kontaveit 6-3 6-4, Shelby Rogers 6-3 6-4 and Jennifer Brady 7-6 (1) 3-6 6-3.
The Japanese was the runner-up in New York. The Japanese won 5 titles in her career: all of them conquered on hard courts. (See the list of her titles)
Serena Williams at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2020
Currently ranked no.8, Serena has a 16-4 win-loss record in 2020. Serena is now competing at the U.S. Open where she ousted Kristie Ahn 7-5 6-3, Margarita Gasparyan 6-2 6-4, Sloane Stephens 2-6 6-2 6-2, Maria Sakkari 6-3 6-76 6-3 and Tsvetana Pironkova 4-6 6-3 6-2.
Serena Williams will square off with Azarenka in the semifinal. The head to head is 18-4 for Serena Williams.
The American clinched 1 title in 2020 in Auckland.
Serena won 73 titles in her career: 43 on hard courts, 13 on clay courts, 7 on indoor courts, 2 on carpet courts and 8 on grass courts. (See the list of her titles)
Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams played each other 3 times. The head to head is 2-1 for Osaka. The last time that they squared off, Serena Williams won 6-3 6-4 in the quarter in Toronto (Rogers Cup) in August 2019.
In the following video you can watch the highlights.
