As the tour lands in the Eternal City for the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, the stakes feel higher. This prestigious WTA 1000 event serves as a critical preparation ground ahead of Roland Garros, where players battle not only for the title but also for crucial momentum on the clay courts.
Forty-nine of the Top 50 players in the PIF WTA Rankings are set to compete in Rome, with only Barbora Krejcikova absent due to injury. All eyes will be on World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who arrives fresh off winning the last two WTA 1000 events, including the recent clay tournament in Madrid. She aims for her first Rome title. Standing in her way is World No. 2 Iga Swiatek, a dominant force in Rome, having claimed the title three times in the last four years. The stage is set for compelling storylines.
Top 10 Players at a Glance
No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (31-5 in 2025): After securing her third Madrid title, she confidently seeks a maiden victory in Rome.
Best Rome result: Finalist 2024.
No. 2 Iga Swiatek (26-8): The defending champion looks to rebound and find inspiration after a significant semifinal loss to Coco Gauff in Madrid.
Best Rome result: Champion 2024, 2022, 2021.
No. 3 Coco Gauff (19-7): Her clay game is improving, evidenced by reaching the Madrid final with notable wins over Swiatek, Mirra Andreeva, and Belinda Bencic.
Best Rome result: Semifinalist 2024, 2021.
No. 4 Jessica Pegula (27-8): Triumphed on the green clay of Charleston but holds a 2-2 record on red clay since.
Best Rome result: Quarterfinalist 2021.
No. 5 Jasmine Paolini (16-8): Italy’s top hope enters her sixth main draw appearance but has struggled on home soil with a 2-5 record.
Best Rome result: Round of 32 in 2020.
No. 6 Madison Keys (23-5): Participates in her 11th main-draw event in Rome.
Best Rome result: Finalist 2016 (lost to Serena Williams).
No. 7 Mirra Andreeva (24-6): A semifinalist at Roland Garros last year, she hopes for a similar breakthrough performance in Rome.
Best Rome result: Round of 128 in 2024.
No. 8 Zheng Qinwen (9-7): With only a 2-2 clay record this year, she seeks a resurgence in Rome.
Best Rome result: Quarterfinalist 2024, 2023.
No. 9 Emma Navarro (15-10): Lost her second match in Madrid to Donna Vekic.
Best Rome result: Round of 64 in 2024.
No. 10 Paula Badosa (12-7): Withdrew from Madrid due to a chronic back injury; her participation in Rome remains uncertain, likely a game-time decision.
Best Rome result: Quarterfinalist 2023.
Three Intriguing First-Round Matches
- Naomi Osaka vs. wild card Sara Errani
- Marketa Vondrousova vs. Wang Xinyu
- Dayana Yastremska vs. Anastasia Potapova
Players Making Waves
Naomi Osaka arrives in Rome with significant momentum, having recently claimed the L`Open 35 de Saint Malo title in France. This marks her first career clay-court title. As a wild card, Osaka defeated Kaja Juvan 6-1, 7-5 in the final, pushing her ranking up to No. 48. She went undefeated (5-0) for the week, playing her first clay matches since the Paris Olympics. This title is her first at any level since winning her fourth Grand Slam singles title five years ago at the Australian Open.
Using Personal Rankings
Three notable players enter the main draw using their protected rankings: Petra Kvitova, Bianca Andreescu, and Anastasija Sevastova.
Kvitova faces Irina-Camelia Begu, known for being a tough opponent on clay. Andreescu is matched against 20-year-old Italian wild card Federica Urgesi, while Sevastova plays against another Italian, Lucia Bronzetti.
Rome`s Rich History
The Italian Open boasts a storied past. Chris Evert holds the record for the most titles with five. Conchita Martinez, Gabriela Sabatini, and Serena Williams are close behind with four each. Martinez is unique as the only player, male or female, to win four consecutive times (1993-1996).
In the Open Era, Serena Williams leads in women`s singles match wins with 44, followed by Conchita Martinez with 43. Among active players, Victoria Azarenka holds the most wins with 28.
Tracy Austin is the youngest winner in the Open Era, capturing the title at age 16 in 1979. Serena Williams is the oldest champion, winning in 2016 at 34, one of her three titles achieved after turning 30.
Only three women have won both the Madrid and Rome titles in the same season: Dinara Safina (2009), Serena Williams (2013), and Iga Swiatek (2024). All accomplished this feat while ranked World No. 1. Aryna Sabalenka has the opportunity to join this elite group.
Among players with multiple appearances, Evert holds the best winning percentage at the Italian Open (.923), with Swiatek (.909) having the second-best.
Switching Allegiances
Just weeks ago, 17-year-old Tyra Grant, considered one of the world`s most promising young talents, competed under the United States flag. However, in Rome, she is representing Italy. Grant received a wild card into the main draw, and many will be watching her first-round match against a qualifier.
Born in Rome to an American father and Italian mother, Grant grew up near Milan and trained at the Piatti Academy, where Jannik Sinner also honed his skills. She also spent time at the USTA national campus in Florida. Grant has secured three junior Grand Slam doubles titles and reached the singles semifinals at last year`s French Open. The decision for her to represent Italy has been anticipated for several weeks.
Qualifying Rounds
The qualifying matches are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, determining the final twelve players who will earn a spot in the main draw.
Top seeds in the qualifying tournament include: No. 1 Katie Volynets, No. 2 Anna Blinkova, No. 3 Zeynep Sonmez, No. 4 Maya Joint, and No. 5 Ajla Tomljanovic.
A notable entry is the 35-year-old Alize Cornet, who announced her retirement last year at Roland Garros but makes a return to competition. She faces No. 22 seed Anna Bondar.
Keep an Eye On…
- Alexandra Eala: The rising 19-year-old Filipina enters the main draw with a No. 71 ranking. Eala previously upset Swiatek in Miami and then faced her again in Madrid in a tough three-set match where Swiatek had to come back from a set and a break down.
- Petra Kvitova: The two-time Wimbledon champion, 35, is still seeking her first win since returning from maternity leave, currently holding an 0-4 record.
- Anastasija Sevastova: After extended breaks for maternity leave and injury, Sevastova achieved victories over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and No. 23 seed Jelena Ostapenko in Madrid, showing promising form.
Tournament Leaders from 2024 (Stats)
- Jelena Ostapenko hit the most winners (150) at the Internazionali d’Italia 2024.
- Aryna Sabalenka saved the most break points (30) and executed the most successful drop shots (17). She also spent the most time on court (10 hours and 13 minutes).
- Coco Gauff won the most points at the net (50) last year.
