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Italian Open 2022: Ons Jabeur vs Sorana Cirstea preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick

Ons Jabeur (L) & Sorana Cirstea
Ons Jabeur (L) & Sorana Cirstea

Match details

Fixture: (9) Ons Jabeur vs Sorana Cirstea

Tournament: Italian Open 2022

Round: First round (Round of 64)

Venue: Rome, Italy

Category: WTA 1000

Surface: Clay.

Prize money: €2,527,250.

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video


Ons Jabeur vs Sorana Cirstea preview

Fresh off her Madrid Open triumph, World No. 10 Ons Jabeur will begin her hunt for the Rome title against the 27th-ranked Sorana Cirstea.

It has been a dream clay season for the Tunisian so far. The former junior Roland Garros champion has taken her game a notch higher on the surface this year.

Jabeur made it all the way to the final at Charleston last month, where she suffered a heartbreaking defeat in three sets to Belinda Bencic. The 27-year-old then started her European clay campaign with yet another grueling three-set loss to Paula Badosa in Stuttgart.

Dreams do come true 🏆😍
I love you all!! 🙏🇹🇳

Thank you Madrid, thank you to everyone who came and supported me. I am so grateful. Thank you to my familly and to the best team: Karim, Issam & Mélanie, you guys are amazing! ❤️ https://t.co/3Bge7Qvr6G

Jabeur didn't let either of those close defeats demoralize her. At the WTA 1000 event in Madrid this week, she played some incredible tennis to beat quality opponents in Simona Halep, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Bencic to reach the biggest final of her career.

She then faced off against the spirited Jessica Pegula, who stormed back to bagel Jabeur after losing the first set in their summit clash on Saturday. But it was Jabeur's determination, belief and courage that gifted her a 7-5, 0-6, 6-2 win in the end to help her etch her name in the annals of Arab and African sporting history.

Sorana Cirstea in action at the BNP Paribas Open
Sorana Cirstea in action at the BNP Paribas Open

The 32-year-old Cirstea, meanwhile, brings a 14-9 win-loss record for the season into Rome.

She reached the fourth round of the Australian Open earlier this year before making the semis in Lyon. With the tour moving to clay, the Romanian's Istanbul title defense ended in the last four.

She then failed to bring that momentum to Madrid, falling in the first round to home hope Nuria Parrizas-Diaz.

Rome Main Draw

Romanian R1 matchups:

🇷🇴Simona Halep vs 🇫🇷Alize Cornet
🇷🇴Sorana Cirstea vs 🇹🇳Ons Jabeur https://t.co/g0HJE8C7Ke

Having beaten Jabeur twice in the past, Cirstea will hope to trouble the Tunisian when the two meet in the first round in Rome.


Ons Jabeur vs Sorana Cirstea head-to-head

Cirstea leads Jabeur 2-0 in the head-to-head. The Romanian first defeated Jabeur in three sets in Doha in 2013 before notching a straight-sets win at Baku the following year.


Ons Jabeur vs Sorana Cirstea odds

Players MoneylineHandicap Bets Total Games (Over & Under)
Sorana Cirstea+270+4.5 (+100)Over 20.5 (+110)
Ons Jabeur-375-4.5 (-145)Under 20.5 (-155)

(All odds sourced from BetMGM)


Ons Jabeur vs Sorana Cirstea prediction

Jabeur kisses the Madrid Open trophy
Jabeur kisses the Madrid Open trophy

This match will pit Cirstea's power-packed baseline game against Jabeur's finesse and variety. Although the Romanian has had the upper hand over Jabeur in the past, she hasn't been consistent of late.

Jabeur, on the other hand, has been a model of consistency in recent times. Not only that, she has improved her game by leaps and bounds and will be high on confidence arriving in Rome.

That said, Cirstea does have the raw power and aggression to put Jabeur in a spot of bother. However, the Tunisian has the ability to break her rhythm with her excellent court coverage and array of dropshots.

Cirstea also needs to produce decent numbers on serve and keep her unforced errors in check, otherwise she will be handing chances to Jabeur on a platter.

Unless Jabeur is tired from her Madrid heroics, this match is likely to finish in straight sets in the Tunisian's favor.

Pick: Ons Jabeur to win in two tight sets.

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