Naomi Osaka vs Sara Errani Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Indian Wells

Prediction published on 07/03/2024, 01:53  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 07/03/2024 at 10:35 in Tennis Predictions

Former Indian Wells champion Naomi Osaka is back at the event and will face qualifier Sara Errani in the first round. Naomi Osaka triumphed here in 2018. Since then she has only played two more times here, the last in 2022. In her four main draw appearances, she has never lost in the first round and will hope to keep this record going. The former world number one is slowly getting back to full fitness after missing the last campaign on maternity leave. She has managed three wins, technically four, as one was a walkover, in seven outings. Now ranked 274th in the live ranking, Osaka is coming off a quarterfinal finish in Doha. The Japanese athlete defeated Errani in their only encounter to date, eight years ago in Miami.

Sara Errani breezed past the qualifying rounds and won both of her fixtures without dropping a set. She relinquished four games in her last qualifier against Arina Rodionova. The Italian is a former Indian Wells quarterfinalist but is only now playing in the main draw since 2017. Errani is having a better season than Osaka and will hope her momentum is enough to upset the former world number one. She has won seven of 12 fixtures and was a quarterfinalist in Cluj. Before arriving at Coachella, Errani had lost in the qualifying rounds in Dubai. The 36-year-old former world number five has moved up four places to 96th in the live ranking. The winner here will progress to play 14th seed Liudmila Samsonova for a place in the third round.