Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams were both not expected to play the Internazionali d’Italia in Rome after having a great run at the US Open. However, while one of them pulled other, the other champion is still on.
Osaka not to play in Rome
At the moment ranked no.9, the Japanese is not in the final of the US Open and as forecasted, she decided not to play in Rome.
The Japanese sensation has a 15-3 win-loss record in 2020. Naomi at the U.S. Open 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 7-61 3-6 6-3.
Naomi Osaka will take on Azarenka in the final. The head to head is 2-1 for Osaka. The Japanese reached the final in New York (Western & Southern Open).
Osaka won 5 titles in her career: all of them conquered on hard courts. (See the list of her titles)
Serena Williams still in the entry list in Rome
Surprisingly, Serena hasn’t withdrawn from Rome (yet) as she is still in the entry list. The 23-slam champion played an extremely taxing US Open after playing 4 consecutive 3-setters. Also. Serena got injured to her Achilles when facing Vika Azarenka in the semifinal.
Ranked no.8, the American played her last match on the 10th of September when she surrendered to Victoria Azarenka 1-6 6-3 6-3 in the semifinal of the U.S. Open.
At the moment, this season Serena Williams has a 16-5 win-loss record. The American conquered 1 title in Auckland.
Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams played each other 3 times. The head to head is 2-1 for Osaka. The last time that they played, 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 key moments of their match.