Italian Open 2026 R32 & R16 Recap | Sinner, Medvedev, Ruud Into Rome QFs

Tournament complete (17 May 2026): Sinner won the men’s title 6-4, 6-4 over Ruud (completing the Career Golden Masters); Svitolina won the women’s title — see Svitolina wins WTA Rome 2026.

The 2026 Italian Open R32 is well underway at the Foro Italico, with the seeded top-of-the-draw having opened their campaigns over the weekend and the lower-seed R32 matches now spread across Tuesday. As of 12 May, Casper Ruud, Jiri Lehecka and Madrid wildcard Rafael Jódar are confirmed through to R32, while Alex de Minaur has been knocked out by Italian wildcard Matteo Arnaldi in the biggest seed upset of the early rounds. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, defending champion Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic and the other top seeds have all begun their R64 campaigns. Below: the R32 picture, the key matchups, and where the top seeds head into R16.

For the full tournament overview, contenders and how to watch, see our Italian Open 2026 preview. For our outright betting picks, see our Italian Open 2026 betting tips.

Italian Open 2026: Confirmed R32 (as of 12 May)

The following players have already secured R32 spots from the lower half of the draw:

Player	Seed	R64 Win
Casper Ruud	25	def. Zachary Svajda
Jiri Lehecka	13	def. Jan-Lennard Struff
Rafael Jódar	—	def. Nuno Borges

Top seeds (Sinner, Zverev, Djokovic, Medvedev, Shelton, Auger-Aliassime, Fritz, Fils, Bublik, Musetti, Cobolli) have all opened R64 across the weekend — the R32 field is being completed through Monday and Tuesday with R16 starting midweek.

The Big Upset So Far: De Minaur Out to Arnaldi

The biggest seed casualty of Rome’s early rounds came on Saturday when Alex de Minaur — the world No. 8 and 7th seed in Rome — was beaten by Italian wildcard Matteo Arnaldi in straight sets in the R64. The Australian’s clay form remains an unanswered question heading into Roland-Garros; he has now lost in the R64 or earlier at both Madrid (to Rafael Jódar) and Rome in successive weeks.

Arnaldi, ranked outside the top 80, becomes the second Italian wildcard story of the spring clay swing alongside Jódar and Blockx (the Madrid SF-runner from Belgium). His R32 opponent will be the winner of a yet-to-be-played R64 match — and his run is the kind of home-crowd-driven momentum that has historically produced deep runs at Rome.

Rafael Jódar: The Madrid Story Continues

Rafael Jódar — the 19-year-old Spaniard who reached the Madrid quarter-finals as a wildcard — has continued his remarkable clay swing in Rome. After receiving direct main-draw entry on the back of his Madrid run, he defeated Nuno Borges in the R64 to reach the Italian Open R32 in his Foro Italico debut.

Jódar’s path to a second consecutive Masters 1000 quarter-final could include a meeting with Novak Djokovic or Daniil Medvedev in the next round — if his draw section holds form. For full context on the breakout Spanish teenager, see our Jódar & Blockx feature.

Casper Ruud: Rebuilding After Madrid Shock

Casper Ruud needed a confidence-restoring opener after his Madrid quarter-final exit to qualifier Alexander Blockx — and his R64 win over Zachary Svajda has at least put him into R32. Ruud, who lost 1,000 defending Madrid points and dropped to world No. 25, is now playing for ranking and momentum ahead of Roland-Garros, where he has reached the final twice (2022, 2023).

Jiri Lehecka: Continuing Top-15 Run

Jiri Lehecka has been one of the most consistent ATP players of 2026, with his recent Madrid quarter-final lifting him to world No. 13. The big-serving Czech defeated Jan-Lennard Struff in R64 and now waits for his R32 opponent. Lehecka is a credible top-eight pick at this tournament given his clay improvement and the favourable section of the draw.

The Top Seeds: R64 Through to R32

The top of the men’s draw has opened over the weekend, with R64 matches for the seeded players now complete or near-complete. R32 matches are playing through Monday and Tuesday with R16 starting Wednesday. Key seeded names and their paths:

• Jannik Sinner (1) — opens campaign — having received a R128 bye, the world No. 1 began his tournament in R64 over the weekend. Sinner remains the overwhelming favourite to reach the final from his half of the draw given his Madrid form (highest performance rating ever recorded on the LiveTennis system).
• Alexander Zverev (2) — defending champion — the German is the only player to beat Sinner on clay in 2026 (Monte Carlo SF) and arrives in Rome as the most credible threat to the top seed. His R32 result will be a key indicator of whether the rematch is on track for the final.
• Novak Djokovic (4) — six-time Rome champion — Djokovic is in Jódar’s section of the draw. A potential R16 meeting between the 38-year-old six-time Rome champion and the 19-year-old Spanish wildcard would be one of the matches of the year — and is now potentially mid-week away depending on R32 results.
• Arthur Fils (11) — clay form player — fresh off Barcelona title + Madrid SF, Fils has opened his campaign in R64 over the weekend. The Frenchman has won 12 of his last 13 clay matches and is genuine dark-horse material at this tournament.

Italian Open 2026 R32 Predictions

Match	Prediction
Sinner (1) — R32 path	Sinner advances
Zverev (2) — R32 path	Zverev advances
Djokovic (4) — R32 path	Djokovic advances; potential R16 vs Jódar
Ruud — R32 (through)	Toss-up against R32 opponent — form remains shaky
Jódar — R32 (through)	Continue the run — confidence is high
Lehecka (13) — R32 (through)	Lehecka — three sets

Storylines to Watch in R32

• Sinner at Rome. Despite his dominant form, Sinner has never gone beyond the quarter-finals at Rome. Home pressure is real, and the R16/QF stage from Wednesday onwards is where his record will be tested.
• Jódar’s draw. The 19-year-old Spaniard is now within a couple of matches of a potential second consecutive Masters 1000 quarter-final.
• Zverev’s title defence. The German has not lost in Rome since the 2024 final win. Can he extend the streak?
• Italian wildcards. Arnaldi has already beaten De Minaur. Lorenzo Sonego and other home wildcards also bring vocal Foro Italico support — early-round upsets remain in play.
• Fils as the Sinner-stopper? Sinner-Fils could meet as early as the quarter-finals. The Frenchman’s recent clay surge means this is a meaningful matchup, not a procession.

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.

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FAQs

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 and chasing his fourth Masters 1000 title of 2026. With Carlos Alcaraz confirmed absent through wrist injury, Sinner faces no credible challenger at the top of the draw.

Is Alex de Minaur still in the Italian Open?

No. De Minaur was beaten in R64 by Italian wildcard Matteo Arnaldi — the biggest upset of the early rounds.

Why is Carlos Alcaraz not playing Rome?

Alcaraz has officially withdrawn from Rome and Roland-Garros with a right wrist injury, after tests revealed tendon inflammation and cartilage damage. He has not played a competitive match since the Barcelona Open in mid-April.

Who is Rafael Jódar?

The 19-year-old Spanish wildcard whose Madrid quarter-final run was the breakout story of the clay swing. After receiving direct main-draw entry to Rome on the back of his Madrid result, he has reached R32 by beating Nuno Borges in R64. For the full backstory, see our Jódar & Blockx feature.

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.