The first round action at the 2025 WTA Madrid Open continues on Wednesday, May 7 as Belinda Bencic, Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu take to court today. You can get the best predictions and tips for the day from this tournament here.
Naomi Osaka v Sara Errani
Naomi Osaka holds a perfect lead over Sara Errani, up 2–0 in their tour meetings but they have never faced off on clay before this. Their clash in Rome promises a generational showdown: Osaka’s power game versus Errani’s crafty clay prowess and experience.
Osaka’s style is built on brute force and precision. Her 201 km/h serve and flattened forehand allow her to dominate baseline exchanges, often ending points within three strokes.
While clay isn’t her strongest surface—her best Grand Slam result there is a third-round showing—she has adapted well, compiling a 5–1 record on red dirt this season following her WTA 125 title win in Saint-Malo, using depth and early timing to keep opponents pinned behind the baseline.
Errani, a former world No. 5 and 2012 French Open finalist, epitomizes clay-court craft. Her two-handed backhand slice and variety of angles disrupt power hitters, forcing extended rallies. Yet 2025 has been unforgiving: despite six main-draw entries at WTA 1000 events, she has yet to secure a win, highlighting a dip in confidence and a ranking outside the Top 150.
Osaka might not have the greatest of records on clay but has shown improved movement under coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Errani has an impressive record on clay but that is all a thing of the past, she has struggled to get going at the highest level.
In 2025, Osaka is 14–6 overall, having made the final at the Auckland Open earlier in the year. She is still trying to get back to her best following her return from her maternity leave. By contrast, Errani’s best result this year has been in doubles competitions; her singles game has faltered against contemporary power baseliners, leaving her goalless in main draws.
Tactically, Osaka must punish Errani’s second serve and use her serve-plus-one forehand to keep rallies short. Errani will look to neutralize pace with deep slices and draw Osaka into uncomfortable half-court exchanges.
Osaka v Errani Tip: Osaka to win in straight sets: 1/3
Marta Kostyuk v Alexandra Eala
This will be the first meeting between Marta Kostyuk and Alexandra Eala.
Kostyuk brings an aggressive, initiative-taking style to the clay, frequently charging the net and flattening her groundstrokes to seize control of rallies—a game she honed under coach Sandra Zaniewska and which has become her trademark.
Alexandra Eala, by contrast, operates left-handed with a two-handed backhand, constructing points from deep behind the baseline with heavy flat strikes and well-timed counterpunching.
On clay, Kostyuk’s résumé is formidable: she owns a 76–37 career record on the surface, hinting at comfort and consistency when rallies stretch out. Eala’s clay numbers are less polished—14–19 in her career—but she has shown growth in recent months.
This season, Kostyuk is 14–10 overall and 3–1 on clay, highlighted by a quarterfinal run in Madrid that included straight-sets wins over higher-ranked opponents.
Eala is 16–10 for the year and 2–2 on clay; she broke through in Miami, reaching the semifinals with a stunning upset of Iga Świątek, demonstrating her ability to break serve and maintain composure under pressure.
Tactically, Kostyuk must use her depth-of-strike and net-rushing instincts to keep points short, preventing Eala’s left-handed angles from developing. Eala, meanwhile, will aim to extend rallies, exploiting any low-bouncing balls and injecting pace off both wings to force errors.
Kostyuk v Eala Tip: Kostyuk to win in three sets: 3/1
Emma Raducanu v Maya Joint
They meet with absolutely no prior tour history, 0–0 heading into Rome.
Raducanu is an aggressive baseline player who hits early on the rise and redirects pace with precision. Her world-class two-handed backhand and powerful slice break opponent rhythm, while her forehand and 110 mph serve allow her to dominate rallies.
She combines footspeed, anticipation and tactical flexibility to pressure opponents deep behind the baseline, then finish points with pinpoint winners .
Joint, by contrast, brings a first-strike approach from the back of the court. She prefers hard courts and clay, using flat groundstrokes and a solid two-handed backhand to dictate points. She slides well on red dirt and isn’t afraid to step in off second serves, though her movement can be tested by heavy topspin .
On clay so far in 2025, Raducanu is 1–1, opening her Madrid campaign with a hard-fought win before falling in round two.
Her career clay résumé includes a second-round run at Roland Garros in 2022, but clay remains her least familiar surface, demanding discipline in footwork and patience during extended rallies.
Joint has earned her place in Rome through three qualifying wins, then reached the Madrid second round, compiling a 2–2 clay record this spring. She made the semifinal at Hobart and added a quarter-final showing in Mérida, demonstrating improved consistency and confidence at the highest level this year.
Tactically, Raducanu must punish Joint’s serve-and-pound game by neutralizing her flat exchanges with depth and by choosing the right moment to attack short balls.
Joint will aim to shorten rallies, use angles and slides to pull Raducanu off the court, and seize momentum with her forehand. On a surface that rewards variation and footwork, experience favors Raducanu—but Joint’s fearless baseline aggression and clay comfort could spring a surprise.
Raducanu v Joint Tip: Joint to win: 6/4
Belinda Bencic v Maria Sakkari
Their rivalry is finely balanced, but Maria Sakkari holds the edge, leading Belinda Bencic 2–1 in their head-to-head meetings, with victories coming at 2019 Hopman Cup and 2020 St Petersburg, while Bencic’s sole triumph arrived at the 2022 Berlin Open.
Bencic brings an aggressive, all-court arsenal to Rome. Her potent first serve, regularly touching 113 mph, and smart use of slice and dropshots make her a multifaceted threat, though her second serve can betray her under pressure.
Sakkari, by contrast, is a power baseliner whose heavy, flat groundstrokes and high-kick serve translate well to slow surfaces. Her ability to dictate rallies with depth and angle has underpinned deep runs on tour.
On clay, Bencic’s résumé features two third-round showings at Roland Garros (2019, 2022), demonstrating steadily improved competency on slower courts.
Sakkari boasts a career solid record on clay, including semifinal appearances at the 2021 French Open, illustrating both consistency and firepower on the dirt.
This season, Bencic has been in fine form. She captured the Abu Dhabi title in February—her first since returning from maternity leave—and followed that by rolling to the quarterfinals at Indian Wells, where she upset third seed Coco Gauff before falling to Madison Keys.
In Madrid she notched wins over Clara Tauson and Beatriz Haddad Maia en route to the fourth round, lifting her back into the world’s top 50.
Meanwhile, Sakkari has endured a tougher campaign: her 12-14 record this year has seen her ranking slip to No. 82. She earned her spot in Rome’s main draw by coming through qualifying but is coming off an upset win over No. 6 seed Jasmine Paolini to reach the Madrid Round of 16 last week.
Tactically, Bencic will look to use her variety—mixing slice, angles and pace—to disrupt Sakkari’s rhythm, while Sakkari will aim to stay aggressive, punishing short balls and drawing errors. Fitness could be a factor: Bencic’s recent match load has been lighter, whereas Sakkari has logged extensive qualifying and main-draw minutes.
Bencic v Sakkari Tip: Bencic to win in straight sets: 6/5
