The entry list for the Internazionali BNL d`Italia has been revealed this week, building excitement for another major WTA 1000 clay-court tournament this spring.
Every player within the Top 71 of the WTA Rankings as of April 7th is confirmed to participate in the main draw of this esteemed competition, celebrating its 82nd year. The main tournament in Rome is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, May 6.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Iga Swiatek are the top seeds and are expected to compete in a rematch of the previous year`s final. In 2024, Swiatek triumphed over Sabalenka in straight sets to claim the Rome title.
Completing the Top 5 entries are three American players: Jessica Pegula (currently at a career-high No. 3 after her Charleston victory), Coco Gauff, and Madison Keys.
Italian fans will be thrilled to support World No. 6 Jasmine Paolini, the highest-ranked Italian player, as she aims to secure her first singles title on home ground.
Swiatek boasts three RomeOpen titles (2021, 2022, and 2024), and she is joined in the entry list by two other former champions: Elina Svitolina, a two-time winner (2017 and 2018), and Elena Rybakina, the 2023 champion.
Keys previously reached the Rome final in 2016, where she was runner-up to Serena Williams. Other past Rome finalists in this year`s main draw include Victoria Azarenka (2013), Ons Jabeur (2022), and Anhelina Kalinina (2023).
Four players have gained entry to the main draw using special rankings, including two Grand Slam champions: Petra Kvitova (who recently returned from maternity leave) and Bianca Andreescu. Sorana Cirstea and Anastasija Sevastova are also participating in the main draw via special ranking.
Renata Zarazua of Mexico is currently the last direct entrant at World No. 71. The first two alternates for main draw entry are Caroline Dolehide from the United States, ranked No. 72, and Filipina teenager Alexandra Eala, ranked No. 73. Eala recently achieved significant milestones for the Philippines by reaching the Miami semifinals and entering the Top 100.
Rupert Caldwell