Rome Open 2025 Preview
The 2025 Internazionali BNL d’Italia, set to take place from May 6 to 18 at Rome’s historic Foro Italico, promises to be a landmark edition of this prestigious clay-court tournament. Now in its 82nd year, the event has expanded into a 12-day spectacle featuring both ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 draws, with 96-player fields in each.
Venue Enhancements & “Fifth Slam” Ambitions
Significant upgrades have been made to the tournament facilities. The Foro Italico now boasts 20 courts, including the newly inaugurated SuperTennis Arena, which seats 3,000 spectators. Additionally, matches will be played at the iconic Stadio dei Marmi for the first time. These enhancements are part of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation’s (FITP) ambitious plan to elevate the tournament’s status, potentially transforming it into a two-week event akin to the Grand Slams.
ATP: Sinner’s Return & Djokovic’s Absence
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner returns to competition in Rome after serving a three-month suspension due to an anti-doping violation. His comeback is highly anticipated, especially on home soil.
Notably absent is Novak Djokovic, who has withdrawn from the tournament. This marks the first time since 2005 that Djokovic will enter Roland Garros without a clay-court victory that season.
Other top contenders include Alexander Zverev, the defending men’s singles champion, and Carlos Alcaraz, who is returning from injury. The draw also features Taylor Fritz, Jack Draper, and Holger Rune, all aiming to make deep runs in the tournament.
WTA: Swiatek, Sabalenka, and Badosa’s Challenging Path
In the women’s draw, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Iga Świątek are the top seeds. Świątek, the defending champion, faces a potential quarterfinal clash with Paula Badosa, who has a challenging path ahead. Badosa’s first match will be against the winner of Naomi Osaka and Sara Errani. If she advances, she could face Beatriz Haddad Maia in the third round and Madison Keys in the fourth.
Other notable players include Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, both of whom are in strong form and looking to capitalize on the expanded draw. Jéssica Bouzas, another Spanish player, will start against Ann Li and could face Elina Svitolina in the second round.
Prize Money & Prestige
The 2025 edition boasts a total financial commitment of €9,645,265 for the ATP event, with the singles champion set to earn €985,030. The WTA event also offers substantial prize money, reflecting the tournament’s growing prestige and the FITP’s commitment to achieving equal prize money in the near future.