The WTA Italian Open has begun play. Last Word On Sports is back with more action in our best bets column. Do you like our picks for the Italian Open? Let us know in the comment section whether you agree or disagree with my selections.
WTA Italian Open
Cocciaretto – Avanesyan: Time 11:00
H2H: 2-1
While Elina Avanesyan is ranked higher than Elisabetta Cocciaretto, it’s the Italian who has had the better of their three matches. Adding to the fact that Cocciaretto is 2-1 against Avanesyan is the fact that both of those wins came on a clay court, which is what they’ll play on in Rome. The big knock against Cocciaretto right now is that she’s only won four of her last ten matches. Avanesyan isn’t doing too much better at 5-5.
Best Bet to Make
The books have Avanesyan as the favorite, but I’m going to buck that trend and run with Cocciaretto. The Italian has beaten her every time they’ve met on clay, and she’s not that big of an underdog. Cocciaretto also nabbed those wins when there was more on the line, so one should expect her to bring that same vigor in the hopes of getting her season and year back on a winning note.
That being said, Cocciaretto winning is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/ the best odds: Cocciaretto winning @2.38 @WilliamHill
Sramkova– Kessler: Time 14:00
H2H: 0-1
McCartney Kessler and Rebecca Sramkova will meet for only the second time in Rome. Kessler took their only meeting in straight sets earlier this year in Australia en route to a tournament victory. Kessler has been extremely hot and cold in 2025, winning or reaching the finals of two tournaments and a quarterfinal or getting knocked out pretty early. Sramkova only has one quarterfinal appearance, and that is her best showing since reaching the finals in Jiujiang back in November of 2024.
Best Bet to Make
The books have Sramkova as a favorite, and the only reason is her extensive experience on clay courts as compared to Kessler. Sramkova is what you might call a specialist, going 245-133 on clay for her career. Kessler doesn’t even have 133 matches, she’s only 23-22 on the surface for her career. When you get into those types of specifics, it’s easy to see why the books are bullish on the clay court specialist. I would personally pick Sramkova since she’s playing better on clay, but the idea of Kessler at around 2.3 is going to be mighty tempting for a lot of players.
That being said, Sramkova winning is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/ the best odds: Sramkova winning @1.74 @Unibet
Bronzetti – Sevastova: Time 13:00
H2H: 0-0
Lucia Bronzetti and Anastasija Sevastova will meet for the first time. Even though Bronzetti is nearly 520 spaces higher in the world rankings, Sevastova is absolutely no slouch on clay. Sevastova has spent nearly her entire career playing on either clay or hardcourts, but she excels most on clay. At 247-104, she wins more than twice as much as she loses. Bronzetti is certainly accomplished on clay, but she’s only 179-132 all-time.
Best Prop Bet to Make
The books have Bronzetti as the favorite, but she’s lost twice in her last four matches as a solid favorite, and both were on clay. Adding to Bronzetti’s woes, Sevastova is much more particular about the matches she plays, and she has only played five times in all of 2025. You can count this as a positive or a negative, depending on whether you see it as rest or inactivity. She may have gone further in her first tournament, but she withdrew due to injury while tied 1-1 with Arantxa Rus. Bronzetti is the favorite with the books, but I disagree.
That being said, Sevastova winning is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/ the best odds: Sevastova winning @2.20 @Betway
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports