Navone or China advocating for Sinner's Rome Reentry

A Fresh Take:

Jannik Sinner, the world no. 1 in tennis, makes his triumphant return to Rome!

Sinner's three-month suspension for the Clostebol case is a distant memory, and with official training already under his belt, the Italian sensation is primed to shake off the rust. The Italian Open, scheduled for May 7 at the Foro Italico, can't come soon enough! Sinner's rivals in the second round will either be the rising star Federico Cina or the Argentine Mariano Navone. Cina, eager for the challenge, has shown optimism: "Tough second round? I can't predict what will happen, but I'll give it my all and see where that takes me."

Sinner, overjoyed to be back in Rome, will first mix it up on the red clay against Czech Jiri Lehecka, Nadal's recent Madrid opponent. With a busy month ahead, including the Masters in Rome, a Hamburg debut, the French Open, and a Wimbledon warm-up, Sinner's rise to the top is only just beginning. As the first Italian to play as the leader of the rankings in the Italian Open, Sinner is ready to make history in a record edition with two Italian players in the top 10.

Men's Draw

More Italian talent is set to grace the courts. Eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti will be on Alexander Zverev's (no. 2) side of the draw, beginning in the second round. Matteo Berrettini takes on young American Sebastian Korda, while Fabio Fognini tests his mettle against Alexander Bublik. Newcomer Mattia Bellucci faces Pedro Martinez, Matteo Gigante squares off against Arthur Rinderknech, and Matteo Arnaldi clashes with Roberto Bautista Agut. An Italian derby looms between Luca Nardi and Flavio Cobolli. Lorenzo Sonego and Francesco Passaro face a qualifier, and finally, Luciano Darderi crosses swords with Chinese Yunchaokete Bu.

Women's Draw

Sixth seed Jasmine Paolini prepares for her second-round debut, with potential Italian opponent Giorgia Pedone looming. Italo-AmericanBundleTyraCaterinaGrant, making her first appearance in Rome, couldn't be more excited: "I can't wait to kick off the tournament, and there's no better place to do it than my hometown!"

Italian Debuts

JasminePaolini (ITA) bye; 2nd round vs. winner of Giorgia Pedone (ITA) - Lulu Sun (NZL)
Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) vs. Anastasia Sevastova (LTU)
Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) vs. Elina Avanesyan (ARM)
Sara Errani (ITA) vs. Naomi Osaka (JPN)
Lucrezia Stefanini (ITA) vs. Veronika Kudermetova (RUS)
Giorgia Pedone (ITA) vs. Lulu Sun (NZL)
Nuria Brancaccio (ITA) vs. Peyton Stearns (USA)
Tyra Caterina Grant (ITA) vs. qualifier
Federica Urgesi (ITA) vs. Bianca Andreescu (CAN)
Arianna Zucchini (ITA) vs. qualifier

Potential quarter-finals in the women's tournament

Sabalenka (1) - Zheng (8)
Gauff (4) - Andreeva (7)
Pegula (3) - Paolini (6)
Swiatek (2) - Keys (5)

With Italy the lone country boasting two Top 10 players in the ATP rankings, Sinner's road to victory isn't just about him. Lorenzo Musetti officially joins the exclusive Top 10 club on May 5, 2025, as the sixth Italian player to do so since the ATP introduced the computerised ranking in 1973. Italy boasts seven Top 50 players and nine Top 100 players in the ATP rankings, with Andrea Pellegrino (167, +70) and Federico Cina (323, +50) making significant strides. International talent eyes the Italian Open, too, as Jack Draper enters the Top 5 for the first time and Casper Ruud climbs to number 7 following a recent victory. The 2025 Italian Open is shaping up to be a tournament to remember!

Jannik Sinner, the world's top-ranked tennis player, is averaging just over one major tournament per month, with the Italian Open in Rome, the Masters in Rome, a debut in Hamburg, the French Open, and a Wimbledon warm-up schedule for the upcoming month.
In the Italian Open, Luciano Darderi, an Italian player, will face off against Yunchaokete Bu, a Chinese player, in the first round.
The women's tournament quarter-finals may include an intriguing Italian derby, as sixth seed Jasmine Paolini could potentially face off against rising star and fellow Italian Giorgia Pedone.
According to the ATP rankings, Luca Nardi and Flavio Cobolli, two Italian players, will clash in an enticing Italian derby during the initial stages of the tournament.