Italian Open 2026: Can Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini triumph on home clay? Schedule, draw and how to watch live

Rome awaits the tennis titans at the 2026 Italian Open (6-17 May).

The final major stop on the clay swing ahead of Roland-Garros takes place in the Eternal City’s Foro Italico, which was a host venue at the Olympic Games Rome 1960.

Italy won 13 Olympic golds at their home Games, and 66 years later, they have every chance of sweeping the titles with what is a golden generation of Italian tennis.

Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini headline the men's and women's singles fields, respectively, sporting the tricolour, alongside young talents like Flavio Cobolli and Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Paolini will team up with fellow Olympic champion Sara Errani in the women’s doubles, while the men’s doubles duo of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori add extra firepower to the Italian challenge.

They'll be up against some of the biggest names in world tennis at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. Here are the key things to know.

As Sinner chases more tennis history, the world No. 1 turns focus inward: "I don't play for records"

Italian Open 2026 – Scintillating Sinner aims for six trophies on the bounce

Men’s singles world No. 1 Sinner wrote a new chapter of history in Madrid by becoming the first man to win five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles. It is four in succession alone this season, no one able to touch the 24-year-old on the elite level of the men's tour.

Unbeaten since 19 February, and with the number one ranking secured until at least the grass season, Sinner is the hot favourite to go six in a row at the 1000-level.

Last year’s runner-up is targeting a maiden trophy in the Italian capital, in Carlos Alcaraz’s absence, and on a 23-match winning streak of his own. The Italian looks unplayable on clay – home hopes will firmly be with the history-making top seed in Rome.

Elsewhere, Arthur Fils is in fantastic form with his only clay-court loss in 10 outings coming to Sinner in the Madrid semi-finals. It was in the Spanish capital that Rafa Jódar also proved his prowess on the surface, at a career-high world No. 34 heading to Rome.

Italian Open 2026 – Paolini returns to Rome in testing title defence

Returning as the defending women’s singles and doubles champion, Paolini is in the perfect place to regain confidence in what has been a testing campaign on tour.

The Olympic gold medallist has only progressed past the round of 16 in one of five WTA 1000 singles tournaments this season, though is not one to underestimate with home backing.

“It was so special to win on home soil, especially in Rome,” Paolini told Olympics.com about her singles triumph a year ago. “It's a great tournament, great event, so it was a dream - maybe it wasn't even a dream because it was too big, but I’m really happy about that of course.”

One of her biggest challengers is Marta Kostyuk, who has an 11-0 clay record this season after consecutive titles in Rouen (WTA 250) and Madrid (1000). The Ukrainian only has 120 points to defend and is already at a career best No. 15 heading to Italy.

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