Italian Open 2026 Preview | Sinner, Medvedev & Ruud Lead Rome QFs

Tournament complete (17 May 2026): Jannik Sinner won the men’s title 6-4, 6-4 over Ruud, completing the Career Golden Masters (only Djokovic has done it). On the women’s side, Elina Svitolina won her third Rome title — see the Svitolina wins WTA Rome 2026 report.

Update, 14 May: The ATP Rome draw has moved into the quarter-finals. See our full Italian Open 2026 quarter-final preview for Sinner vs Rublev, Landaluce vs Medvedev, and the confirmed Ruud vs Darderi semi-final.

The 2026 Italian Open (Internazionali BNL d’Italia) is underway at the Foro Italico in Rome from 6-17 May, with the world’s top players battling for the final ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 title before Roland-Garros. As of 12 May the tournament is in the R32 / R16 phase. Jannik Sinner enters as world No. 1 and overwhelming favourite after winning the Madrid Open without dropping a set, chasing a fourth Masters 1000 title of 2026. Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed his withdrawal with a right wrist injury, missing both Rome and Roland-Garros. Below: the full preview, key contenders for both tours, results so far, and how to watch.

For our outright betting tips, see our Italian Open 2026 betting tips. For Sinner’s record-breaking Madrid win, see our Sinner wins Madrid report. For the next event after Rome, see our French Open 2026 preview.

Italian Open 2026 Key Facts

Detail	Info
Tournament	Italian Open 2026 (Internazionali BNL d’Italia)
Dates	6 – 17 May 2026
Venue	Foro Italico, Rome, Italy
Surface	Clay (outdoor)
Category	ATP Masters 1000 / WTA 1000
Draw size	96 (both singles draws)
Prize money	EUR 8.5+ million (combined)
ATP defending champion	Alexander Zverev (2025)
WTA defending champion	Iga Swiatek (2025)
UK TV	Sky Sports Tennis / NOW

The Story So Far: Sinner’s Clay Dominance Continues

Sinner arrives in Rome having won the 2026 Australian Open, Monte Carlo and Madrid back-to-back — three consecutive titles, the last of which produced the highest performance rating ever recorded on the LiveTennis system. He did not drop a set at Madrid and did not face a single break point in the semi-final or final. With Carlos Alcaraz confirmed absent through wrist injury, Sinner is the overwhelming favourite in Rome and arrives in Italy chasing a maiden Foro Italico title.

The clay swing has reshaped the leaderboards beyond the headline acts. Arthur Fils has surged into the world top 20 (#17 post-Madrid) after winning Barcelona and reaching the Madrid semi-finals. Madrid quarter-finalist Rafael Jódar — the 19-year-old Spanish wildcard who beat Alex de Minaur on debut — has earned direct entry to Rome’s main draw. Belgian qualifier Alexander Blockx, the Madrid semi-finalist who beat defending Madrid champion Casper Ruud, also arrives in Rome with rapidly climbing ranking.

Results So Far (as of 12 May)

Rome’s early rounds have already produced significant moments. Below are the confirmed results from the qualifying and opening-round phases:

• Alex de Minaur OUT — Australian No. 1 beaten by Italian wildcard Matteo Arnaldi in the second round (R64). One of the seeded upsets of the early rounds.
• Casper Ruud through — Defeated Zachary Svajda to reach R32.
• Jiri Lehecka through — Defeated Jan-Lennard Struff to reach R32.
• Rafael Jódar through — The Madrid breakout star defeated Nuno Borges in R64 to reach R32 in his Rome debut. Continues a remarkable clay swing as a wildcard.
• Alexander Blockx through — Belgian qualifier defeated Italian wildcard Federico Cinà in R128 to reach R64.
• Alejandro Tabilo through — Defeated Pablo Carreño Busta in R128 to reach R64.
• Sebastian Báez through — Defeated Jenson Brooksby in R128 to reach R64.

The top seeds — Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Ben Shelton, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Taylor Fritz and Arthur Fils — have all opened their campaigns over the weekend (R64 phase). For the latest seed-by-seed update, see our round preview.

Men’s Key Contenders

Jannik Sinner: World No. 1 and Home Favourite

Jannik Sinner arrives at Rome as the man to beat. World No. 1 with a 1,390-point lead over Alcaraz, three Masters 1000 titles already in 2026 (Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid) plus Monte Carlo — and a Madrid run that produced the highest performance rating ever recorded on the LiveTennis system. He has nothing to defend at Rome (suspended from 2025) which means every round at the Foro Italico is bonus points. The pressure of playing in front of an Italian home crowd has historically been mixed for Sinner, but his current level suggests he will not be threatened by anyone in the draw.

Alexander Zverev: Defending Champion

Alexander Zverev won Rome in 2025 and arrives as the man with the most points to defend — and the only player who has actually beaten Sinner on clay in 2026 (in the Monte Carlo semi-final). His Madrid run to the final (lost 1-6, 2-6 to Sinner) confirms his form. If anyone can stop Sinner at Rome, it is Zverev, but he has rarely managed to back-to-back successive Masters wins at the highest level.

Carlos Alcaraz: Confirmed Withdrawal

Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed his withdrawal from Rome and Roland-Garros with a right wrist injury. Tests revealed a combination of tendon inflammation and cartilage damage. He has not played a competitive match since the Barcelona Open in mid-April. His absence at Rome is the most significant withdrawal of the clay swing.

Arthur Fils: The Form Player

Arthur Fils has won 12 of his last 13 matches on clay across Barcelona (won) and Madrid (semi-finals). The 21-year-old Frenchman is now a top-20 player and arrives at Rome with the form of his career. His powerful baseline game and improved second serve make him a genuine dark horse — he is the most credible threat to Sinner at this Masters 1000.

Novak Djokovic: Five-Time Rome Champion

Novak Djokovic is six-time Rome champion (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2022) and at 38 remains a credible deep-run threat at the Foro Italico despite a quiet 2026 by his standards. His clay-court game has slowed in recent seasons but Rome’s slower conditions and his crowd-favourite status historically lift his level.

Casper Ruud: Defending Roland-Garros Hopes

Casper Ruud arrives at Rome with confidence shaken — his Madrid quarter-final exit to qualifier Alexander Blockx cost him significant points and dropped him to world No. 25. Rome is a chance to rebuild momentum before Roland-Garros, where he has reached the final twice (2022, 2023).

Women’s Key Contenders

Iga Swiatek: Defending Champion

Iga Swiatek is the defending Rome champion and four-time Roland-Garros winner. Her Madrid R32 retirement through illness was not form-related, and Rome — slower conditions, lower altitude than Madrid — has historically suited her game more than any non-Paris event. The Pole returns to her favourite hunting ground with serious intent.

Aryna Sabalenka: World No. 1

Aryna Sabalenka retains the world No. 1 ranking despite a shock Madrid quarter-final exit to unseeded Hailey Baptiste. The Belarusian is rebuilding momentum on clay — historically her weakest surface — and Rome is a key stop ahead of Roland-Garros, where she has never been beyond the semi-finals.

Marta Kostyuk: Madrid Champion

Marta Kostyuk arrives in Rome as the Madrid Open champion and the form player on the WTA clay circuit. The Ukrainian is 12-0 on clay in 2026 and has climbed to a career-high world No. 15. Her heavy-topspin game is ideally suited to clay, and she is genuine dark-horse material for the title.

Mirra Andreeva: Career-High No. 7

Mirra Andreeva, 19, climbed to a career-high world No. 7 after reaching the Madrid final. She beat Sabalenka in the Madrid quarter-finals and has previously beaten Swiatek at Stuttgart this clay season. The young Russian is the most exciting WTA prospect on clay in 2026.

Coco Gauff & Elena Rybakina

Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina both exited Madrid in the round of 16 — Gauff to Linda Nosková in three sets, Rybakina to Anastasia Potapova in a late-night upset. Both bring serious credentials to Rome: Gauff is the reigning Roland-Garros champion and Rybakina has the firepower to beat anyone on clay if her serve is firing.

Why Rome is Different

Rome’s conditions sit at the gentle end of clay. The Foro Italico sits at sea level with heavier balls and slower bounce than Madrid’s altitude-affected courts. The result is longer rallies, fewer free points from the serve, and a tournament that rewards stamina and ball-construction over power. It is the clay event most predictive of Roland-Garros success — every Roland-Garros men’s champion since 2017 has reached at least the semi-finals at Rome in the same year. For Sinner, who has historically struggled to convert his hard-court dominance to clay, Rome is the most informative form-check before Roland-Garros 2026.

Recent Champions

Year	ATP Champion	WTA Champion
2025	Alexander Zverev	Iga Swiatek
2024	Alexander Zverev	Iga Swiatek
2023	Daniil Medvedev	Elena Rybakina
2022	Novak Djokovic	Iga Swiatek
2021	Rafael Nadal	Iga Swiatek

Storylines to Watch

• Can anyone stop Sinner? The only player with a recent clay win over the world No. 1 is Zverev — and he was demolished 6-1, 6-2 in the Madrid final two weeks later.
• The Italian home pressure. Sinner has played at Rome only twice as a top player; both ended in quarter-final exits despite a strong tournament-favourite tag. Home expectation is real.
• Fils versus the field. The Frenchman’s clay form makes him the second-most likely champion. Rome is his biggest chance yet to win a Masters 1000.
• Roland-Garros tune-up. Every match here is a form indicator for Paris. Swiatek’s return, Sinner’s level, Andreeva’s confidence — all of it matters two weeks from now.
• Jódar’s wildcard run. The 19-year-old Spaniard’s first Roland-Garros seeding hinges on his Rome result. Through to R32 already.

How to Watch in the UK

Sky Sports Tennis and NOW broadcast the Italian Open live in the UK. Bet365 live streaming is also available to account holders with a funded account or who have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. For full broadcast details see our Rome Masters 2026 live stream guide.

18+ | Please Gamble Responsibly | Odds approximate at time of writing, check Bet365 for latest prices

FAQs

When is the Italian Open 2026?

The 2026 Italian Open runs from 6-17 May at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy.

Who are the defending champions?

Alexander Zverev (ATP) and Iga Swiatek (WTA) are the 2025 Rome champions and defending titles in 2026.

Is Carlos Alcaraz playing the Italian Open 2026?

No. Alcaraz has confirmed his withdrawal from Rome and Roland-Garros with a right wrist injury, after tests revealed tendon inflammation and cartilage damage.

Who is the favourite for the Italian Open 2026?

Jannik Sinner is the overwhelming favourite as world No. 1, fresh from winning Madrid without dropping a set. With Alcaraz absent, the only credible challengers are Alexander Zverev and Arthur Fils.

How can I watch the Italian Open 2026 in the UK?

Sky Sports Tennis has the UK broadcast rights to the Italian Open, with full coverage available on Sky Sports Tennis, Sky Sports Main Event and NOW.