Zheng Qinwen to face Sabalenka again as Rome Open draw is announced.
As the Madrid Masters came to a close, tennis fans’ attention quickly turned to the upcoming Rome Open. Considered one of the most important warm-up events ahead of Roland Garros, the Rome Open has always drawn significant buzz. Recently, the men’s and women’s singles draw lists were officially unveiled.
This year's men's singles draw for the Rome Masters undoubtedly features the biggest highlight: world No. 1 Sinner's long-awaited return after serving his suspension. As the home favorite and top seed, Sinner is naturally under immense pressure—and the weight of soaring expectations—as he takes center stage in this prestigious tournament.
Sinner has been placed in the top half of the draw. After receiving a first-round bye, he’ll face the winner between Navone and his fellow countryman, wildcard player Cina, in the second round. While this opening matchup may seem straightforward, it actually hides a few hidden challenges—after all, having been out of action for a while, his current form remains uncertain. In the third round, he could potentially take on the in-form No. 25 seed Davidovich, while his fourth-round opponent might be none other than Cerundolo, who’s been playing exceptionally well on clay lately.
Facing Sinner in the quarterfinals is No. 7 seed Ruud, who just clinched his first-ever Masters title in Madrid. The Norwegian star is riding high on confidence and in sensational form—so if Sinner wants to advance smoothly, he can’t afford to drop a single match.
Fritz, the No. 4 seed who shares the upper half of the draw with Sinner, also faces a challenging path to advancement. His potential opponents include a lineup of Masters champions such as Mecir, Rublev, and Hurkacz—each a formidable contender. To break through and make a deep run, Fritz will need to deliver his absolute best performance.
The bottom half of the draw is anchored by No. 2 seed Zverev and No. 3 seed Alcaraz. Alcaraz returns to action after withdrawing from the Madrid Masters, with his sights set squarely on capturing a clay-court Grand Slam. He’s now just one Rome Masters title away from this monumental achievement, having already clinched victories at Roland Garros, Madrid, and Monte Carlo.
Alcaraz will face either Struff or Yoshihito Nishioka in the second round, and there’s a strong possibility he’ll clash with world No. 5 and Madrid runner-up Draper in the quarterfinals. This matchup is undoubtedly set to be an epic showdown—already marked by intense rivalry in their previous encounters—and their meeting this time around is sure to deliver a thrilling spectacle for fans.
As this year's defending champion, Zverev has been experiencing inconsistent form. In the second round, he’ll face either the qualifier or Karabelli—while his potential opponents include talented players like Musetti, Medvedev, Fils, and Tsitsipas. Each of these rivals possesses the firepower to defeat him, so if Zverev hopes to successfully retain his title, he’ll need to regain his top level of play as soon as possible.
On the Chinese players' side, only Bu Yunchaokete will be competing this time. His first-round opponent is Italy's Darderi, currently ranked 46th in the world—making their matchup evenly matched and full of uncertainty. If "Little Bu" manages to pull off an upset victory, he’ll face No. 5 seed Draper in the next round, presenting a massive challenge and, at the same time, a golden opportunity to prove himself.
The women's singles draw is equally star-studded, with Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff, Pegula, and others all competing—making this tournament absolutely packed with excitement.
Top seed Sabalenka heads the top half of the draw, with a relatively balanced seeding. She could face either Potapova, who withdrew from the Stuttgart tournament due to injury, or Ukraine's formidable Yastremska in the second round—both matchups promise plenty of excitement. Also in her section is China's No. 1 player, Zheng Qinwen, who receives a first-round bye and will take on the winner between Danilovic and Siniakova in the second round. If Zheng advances smoothly, she’ll likely meet her longtime rival Sabalenka once again in the quarterfinals.
This region also boasts top players like Rybakina and Andreescu, with the latter set for a highly anticipated comeback match against Vekic—a clash between two powerhouses that’s bound to spark some unforgettable drama.
Gauff, who just delivered a stunning victory over Swiatek in Madrid, is now on a remarkable upward trajectory. Her first match will be against either Italy’s young talent Zucchini or a qualifier, while she could potentially face Bencic in the second round. With a relatively straightforward draw, Gauff is well-positioned to advance deep into the tournament—perhaps even reaching the semifinals or going further. Gauff’s electrifying performance in Madrid has already highlighted her immense potential on clay, and fans are eagerly anticipating whether she can carry this momentum forward at the Rome Open, where she’ll look to challenge for the title.
Defending champion Swiatek has struggled on clay this season. After suffering a loss to longtime rival Ostapenko in Stuttgart, she was handed another crushing defeat in Madrid, losing 1-6, 1-6 to Gauff—leaving her form looking particularly fragile. Swiatek’s opening match will see her face either Avanesyan or home favorite Cocciaretto, setting up a tough encounter right from the start. Despite her recent slump, Swiatek remains a formidable force as a former dominant figure on clay, backed by both her wealth of experience and undeniable firepower. Whether she can turn things around on this familiar surface and stage a much-needed comeback to redeem herself is one of the biggest unanswered questions of the tournament.
Besides Zheng Qinwen, China's women's singles also sees Wang Xinyu directly qualifying for the main draw. She'll face Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejčíková in the first round—a match that promises to be highly challenging. However, if Wang Xinyu manages to perform at her usual level, an upset isn't entirely out of the question.
As the men's and women's singles draw for the Rome Open is unveiled, the grand spectacle of tennis is about to begin. Whether it’s the fierce battle among male contenders or the vibrant competition among female stars, fans are already buzzing with excitement.
