The Hologic WTA Tour continues with the upcoming Internazionali BNL d’Italia on clay court. The 96-player main draw was released, and 18 of the world’s Top 20 players will be competing for the title. The singles and doubles finals will take place on Saturday, May 20, spanning over 12 days for the first time.
Two-time defending champion and World No.1 Iga Swiatek sits at the top of the draw in the first quarter. Before Swiatek’s bye, she could meet either 2014 Rome finalist Sara Errani or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the second round. Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina could also potentially face No.9 seed Maria Sakkari in the Round of 16. Some other athletes in this quarter are 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, and two athletes coming back from maternity leave, Barbora Strycova and Elina Svitolina, who won back-to-back Rome titles in 2017 and 2018.
Last year’s runner-up Ons Jabeur tops the second quarter as the No.4 seed. No.8 seed Daria Kasatkina resides at the bottom of this quarter and will play an Italian wild card in the second round, either Diletta Cherubini or Lisa Pigato. No.10 seed Barbora Krejcikova is a potential Round of 16 opponent for Kasatkina.
No.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka brings momentum into the bottom quarter after winning her second Madrid title in the last three years on Saturday. Sabalenka might face a fellow major winner in the second round after her bye, if 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin can get past Cristina Bucsa in the first round. Another former Australian Open champion, Victoria Azarenka, might await Sabalenka in the Round of 16 if seedings hold. The 2016 Rome finalist and No. 19 seed Madison Keys also resides in this section. No.5 seed Caroline Garcia sits at the other end of this quarter, and she might face Madrid quarterfinalist Petra Martic in the third round and No.12 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in the Round of 16.
