Monday's tennis acca tips: Iga Swiatek to continue clay dominance as Pole targets Madrid-Rome double

Iga Swiatek is back in action in Rome, looking to continue her bid to become the third woman to complete the Madrid-Rome WTA 1000 double.

Swiatek will have to overcome a former world No 1 to reach the last eight in the Eternal City.

It will be a busy day in Rome, and the hope is that the weather plays along on Monday.

Here we make a handful of picks from both the WTA and ATP sides of the Italian Open draw.

 

ATP Rome: Tommy Paul vs Dominik Koepfer | Pick: Paul

ATP Rome: Hubert Hurkacz vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry | Pick: Hurkacz

ATP Rome: Sebastian Baez vs Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune | Pick: Rune

ATP Rome: Hamad Medjedovic vs Daniil Medvedev | Pick: Medvedev

WTA Rome: Iga Swiatek vs Angelique Kerber | Pick: Swiatek

WTA Rome: Danielle Rose Collins vs Irina Camelia Begu | Pick: Collins

WTA Rome: Maria Sakkari vs Victoria Azarenka | Pick: Sakkari

WTA Rome: Elina Svitolina vs Aryna Sabalenka | Pick: Sabalenka

 

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ATP Rome: Tommy Paul vs Dominik Koepfer

Tommy Paul and Dominik Koepfer prepare to meet each other for the fourth time with the American leading the series.

Paul has won their only full ATP Tour clash although Koepfer owns a lower-level clay court win over the world No 16.

Koepfer has already upset a seeded American in his Rome run (Frances Tiafoe) which also saw him snap a losing streak.

Paul eased to victory in his opener but has played just three matches on clay all season.

 

ATP Rome: Hubert Hurkacz vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry

Hubert Hurkacz faces another first-time clash with a clay court expert when he takes on Tomas Martin Etcheverry off the back of beating Rafael Nadal.

Hurkacz will take a lot of confidence from that win despite the Spaniard being clearly underdone.

Etcheverry looked in good touch as he put away Thiago Seyboth Wild in his opening match.

Hurkacz may not be able to make full use of his power game on the slower clay but he should have the blueprint for victory.

 

ATP Rome: Sebastian Baez vs Holger Rune

The Argentine contingent has another hope in Sebastian Baez but he has a tough Round of 32 engagement with Holger Rune.

Rune was beaten at this stage in Madrid and will want to improve in his final French Open tune-up.

Baez needed to win a pair of tiebreak sets to earn his place in the round.

Rune blew past home hope Luca Nardi in a fairly straightforward fashion but should be aware that this opponent will pose a great threat.

 

ATP Rome: Hamad Medjedovic vs Daniil Medvedev

Having bemoaned the slow speed of the courts last time out Daniil Medvedev could have another tough match on his hands even if Hamad Medjedovic had to come through qualifying.

This will be the first meeting between the Young Serbian and the former world No 1.

This will be Medjedovic's first ATP Tour meeting against a top-ten player with Medvedev the highest-ranked player he has faced.

The Serb has beaten quality players in this run but unpicking Medvedev's frustrating defence might prove too great a challenge.

 

WTA Rome: Iga Swiatek vs Angelique Kerber

Iga Swiatek and Angelique Kerber are separated by 330 ranking places at the moment.

Swiatek also holds a 2-0 lead in the head-to-head between the players and Kerber will need to somehow rediscover her best form to end the Polish star's run in Rome.

With a 10-1 record on clay this season, Swiatek is threatening to break new ground as the top player in the world.

Swiatek is the clear tournament favourite right now and Kerber is a real long shot in this clash.

 

WTA Rome: Danielle Rose Collins vs Irina Camelia Begu

Danielle Collins can reach the fifth quarter-final of her season if she can get beyond world No 161 Irina Camelia Begu.

Begu is a better player on clay than her ranking suggests but Collins is in the form of her life right now.

Collins has already beaten handy clay courters in this run and should have the beating of Begu.

Collins also holds a 1-0 lead in the head-to-head between these players even if that win came six years ago.

 

WTA Rome: Maria Sakkari vs Victoria Azarenka

Maria Sakkari will be chasing a first win over Victoria Azarenka at her third attempt as she bids to improve her record on clay.

Sakkari has been more involved in this term's clay swing and sports a 9-3 record on the surface this season.

Azarenka is 5-2 having entered fewer events than Sakkari but both players have been in decent touch in Rome.

Azarenka has come through a tough pair of three-setters while Sakkari is yet to drop a set in this run.

 

WTA Rome: Elina Svitolina vs Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka is one of the great challengers to Swiatek's clay dominance but faces a tricky last-16 meeting with Elina Svitolina.

This clash won't be terrifically friendly with Svitolina calling out Sabalenka in the past.

Sabalenka has won two of their three meetings including their last clash at the 2023 French Open.

Sabalenka will be the favourite but can expect not to have everything her way in this clash.