Sabalenka Opens Rome Open 2026 With Top 20 Field Intact
rome open 2026 began this week at the Foro Italico with all Top 20 players entered. Aryna Sabalenka arrives as the World No. 1 and top seed, still chasing her first Rome title after reaching the final in 2024.
Sabalenka’s Rome route
Sabalenka opened against either Barbora Krejcikova or Elsa Jacquemot. Her path could tighten quickly: No. 26 Sorana Cirstea is a possible third-round opponent, and No. 13 Linda Noskova could wait in the fourth round.
The draw gives her a top-end test right away, but it also reflects how deep this field is. All Top 20 players were entered, and this tournament is the second leg of the WTA’s back-to-back clay-court WTA 1000 events.
Rybakina and Swiatek in range
Elena Rybakina leads the Race to the WTA Finals and is chasing her second Rome title after winning in 2023. Iga Swiatek, a three-time Rome champion in 2021, 2022 and 2024, is again a central figure in the lower half of the draw.
Swiatek could meet Emma Navarro in the third round and Naomi Osaka in the fourth, while the winner of Daria Kasatkina against Caty McNally is set to face her in round two. Kasatkina arrived ranked No. 66 after a WTA 125 title in Spain, and McNally comes off her first WTA 1000 fourth-round appearance in Madrid.
Gauff, Andreeva and the pressure spots
Coco Gauff, the third seed and 2025 Rome runner-up, opens against the winner of Yulia Putintseva and Tereza Valentova. Emma Raducanu, the No. 27 seed, sits on her path in the third round if she gets there after returning from a viral illness.
Mirra Andreeva, the Madrid runner-up, could start against Antonia Ruzic or Kamilla Rakhimova and may run into No. 29 seed Maya Joint in round three. Defending champion Paolini is in the same section as Gauff and Andreeva, so that quarter is already crowded before the first ball is struck.
Sabalenka also brings form with her: three titles in the 2026 season and 26 wins in her first 28 matches on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz. Amanda Anisimova, the sixth seed, is set for her clay debut after withdrawing from Madrid because of a wrist injury, and she carries a 6-5 overall head-to-head edge over Sabalenka, plus a 3-2 edge on clay.
