Play at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome resumed after a rain delay on May 8, 2026, with matches scheduled throughout the day.
Why it matters: The Rome Open is a key tournament leading up to the French Open, featuring top-ranked players and serving as a final preparation opportunity.
The tournament runs from May 5 to May 17, 2026, at the Foro Italico in Rome.
Defending men's champion Carlos Alcaraz is absent due to injury, impacting the competition's dynamics.
Jasmine Paolini returns to defend her women's title, having won last year as the first Italian woman in 40 years.
Driving the news: Following an hour-and-a-half rain delay, two-time champion Alexander Zverev faced Daniel Altmaier on Campo Centrale.
No play occurred before 3:30 p.m. CEST on May 8, 2026, pushing back the day's schedule significantly.
Novak Djokovic, a six-time champion at this event, was set to play qualifier Dino Prizmic after Zverev's match concluded.
State of play: Several notable matches took place on May 8, 2026, with top players advancing through the rounds.
Aryna Sabalenka defeated Barbora Krejčíková with a score of 6-2, 6-3 in the second round.
Jelena Ostapenko overcame Elena-Gabriela Ruse, winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 after Ruse replaced Amanda Anisimova, who withdrew due to injury.
Victoria Mboko also withdrew from the tournament due to a gastrointestinal illness, replaced by Nikola Bartunkova.
The big picture: The Rome Open serves as a major lead-up to Roland Garros, with players aiming to fine-tune their games on clay.
Top competitors like Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek are in action, all seeking momentum before the French Open.
With Alcaraz out, Jannik Sinner emerges as a strong contender, aiming for a historic win as the first Italian man since 1976.
What they're saying: Analysts and fans are closely watching player performances as they prepare for the Grand Slam.
Samuel Gill, Head Editor at TennisUpToDate.com, predicts Iva Jovic might win the title, citing her strong performance and suitability for the clay surface.
Lucas Michael, another editor, favors Elena Rybakina for the title, emphasizing her potential following recent tournaments.
By the numbers: The prize money for the tournament remains a point of interest as players vie for top spots.
The winner of the WTA event last year, Jasmine Paolini, received €877,390, with similar expectations for this year's prize pool.
Round points are awarded to players, with 1000 points for the winner and 650 for the finalist, impacting their rankings significantly.
What's next: Upcoming matches will determine who advances closer to the finals, with several high-stakes encounters scheduled.
Following Zverev's match, Djokovic's performance against Prizmic will be closely monitored as he seeks to regain form.
Fans can expect intense matches as the tournament progresses, culminating in the finals scheduled for May 16 for women and May 17 for men.