Rome Open 2026: Stan Wawrinka and a host of veterans showcase their strength at Foro Italico.
The qualifying rounds for the 2026 Rome Open saw the impressive return of Stan Wawrinka and Pablo Carreno Busta, promising a dramatic ATP 1000 tournament with a title race between Sinner and Alcaraz.
The 2026 Rome Open tennis tournament has officially begun at the Foro Italico sports complex in Italy, starting with dramatic events right from the first qualifying round. On May 4th, the focus was on veteran players striving to regain their glory on the demanding clay courts.
Stan Wawrinka and the spirit of a Grand Slam champion.
Despite being past his prime, Stan Wawrinka proved why he remains a formidable opponent on the clay court. In his match against home favorite Stefano Travaglia, "Stan the Man" displayed steely resolve to come from behind and win 2-1. After losing ground at crucial moments in the set, his experience allowed Wawrinka to completely control the rallies and secure his place in the next round.
Sharing in the joy was Pablo Carreno Busta. The Spanish player had little difficulty overcoming Martin Damm with a decisive 2-0 victory. His consistent groundstrokes helped the former world number 10 assert his dominance over his younger opponent.
Summary of qualifying round results on May 4th
The first day of competition saw many surprises as the seeded players had contrasting results. Most notably, Dusan Lajovic suffered a swift defeat to Jan Choinski in straight sets.
| Match | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Stan Wawrinka - Stefano Travaglia | 2 - 1 | Wawrinka wins |
| Pablo Carreno Busta - Martin Damm | 2 - 0 | Carreno Busta wins |
| Cristian Garin - Moez Echargui | 2 - 0 | Garin wins |
| Dusan Lajovic - Jan Choinski | 0 - 2 | Choinski wins |
| Francisco Comesana - Billy Harris | 2 - 0 | Comesana wins |
In addition, promising players like Dino Prizmic and Martin Landaluce also secured convincing victories to continue their journey towards qualifying for the main draw.
The ATP rankings ahead of the big match.
The Rome Open 2026 is not just a tournament; it's a crucial battleground determining seed rankings ahead of Roland Garros. Currently, Jannik Sinner leads the ATP rankings with 14,350 points, closely followed by "Little Nadal" Carlos Alcaraz with 12,960 points.
The absence of several big names due to injury opens up a great opportunity for Alexander Zverev (ranked 3rd) to close the gap. With Sinner's consistent form in his home country of Italy, experts predict this year's championship race will be a breathtaking battle between youth and experience on the Foro Italico clay courts.
Top seed list (latest ranking)
- Jannik Sinner (Italy):14,350 points
- Carlos Alcaraz (Spain):12,960 points
- Alexander Zverev (Germany):5,805 points
The main draw of the Rome Open 2026 will take place from May 6th to May 17th. Tennis fans are eagerly awaiting the appearance of major stars to witness top-level performances in the Italian capital.
