The final major clay-court stop before Roland-Garros runs May 5-17 at the historic Foro Italico. Here’s your complete guide to the 2026 Rome Masters.
The Internazionali BNL d’Italia – commonly known as the Italian Open or Rome Masters – returns for its 83rd edition, bringing two weeks of fantastic clay-court tennis to Rome’s iconic Foro Italico venue.
With both ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 draws running simultaneously, the tournament is the final crucial preparation for the French Open and often provides the clearest indication of who arrives in Paris with genuine title credentials.
Tournament Dates & Schedule
Main Draw: May 6-17, 2026 (WTA starts May 5) Qualifying: May 4-5, 2026 Draw Ceremony: Monday, May 4, 11:00 AM local time (5:00 AM ET) Location: Foro Italico, Rome, Italy
Session Times:
- Day Sessions: 10:00 AM CEST (4:00 AM ET / 9:00 AM BST)
- Evening Sessions: 6:00 PM CEST (12:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM BST)
Finals Weekend:
- Women’s Singles Final: Saturday, May 16
- Men’s Doubles Final: Sunday, May 17 (not before 2:00 PM)
- Men’s Singles Final: Sunday, May 17 (not before 5:00 PM)
The tournament runs across both tours simultaneously, creating packed daily schedules with multiple show courts in action throughout each session.
The Draw
The draw ceremony took place Monday, May 4 at the historic Piazza del Popolo in Rome, revealing the path for 96 players in both the men’s and women’s singles events.
The 2026 Rome Masters draw is headlined by World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and the highly anticipated return of Novak Djokovic. Sinner, fresh off his dominant victory in Madrid, anchors the top half of the draw. His path to a potential sixth consecutive Masters 1000 title (and a maiden trophy on home soil) could include a dangerous Round of 16 clash against rising French star Arthur Fils. Also looming in Sinner’s section are Madrid finalist Felix Auger-Aliassime, American standout Ben Shelton, and the always-unpredictable Daniil Medvedev.
In the bottom half, the major storyline is the return of 38-year-old Novak Djokovic, who is competing for the first time since Indian Wells. Djokovic’s presence adds a layer of veteran prestige to a section that also features two-time Rome champion Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur, and local favorite Lorenzo Musetti. On the French side, Ugo Humbert faces a daunting prospect, with a potential third-round meeting against Djokovic on the horizon.
The 96-player draws feature first-round byes for the top 32 seeds on both tours, meaning the marquee names don’t begin play until the second round.
See the full draw here.
Sinner’s Historic Opportunity
The biggest storyline is Jannik Sinner’s quest to complete the Career Golden Masters, winning all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. Rome is the only title missing from his collection.
If successful, the 24-year-old would:
- Join Novak Djokovic as the only men to complete the set (Djokovic did it twice)
- Become the youngest ever to achieve the feat
- Win a sixth consecutive Masters 1000 title
- Claim his first title on home soil at a Masters level
Sinner reached last year’s final, losing to Alcaraz in three sets. With Alcaraz absent in 2026 and Sinner riding a 30-2 season record with five straight Masters titles, he enters as the overwhelming favorite.
Prize Money & Points
Total Prize Pool: €8,235,540 ($9.66 million)
The tournament offers equal prize money for men and women:
| Round | Prize Money | ATP Points | WTA Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | €1,007,165 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Finalist | €535,585 | 650 | 650 |
| Semifinalist | €297,550 | 400 | 400 |
| Quarterfinalist | €169,375 | 200 | 200 |
| Round of 16 | €92,470 | 100 | 100 |
| Round of 32 | €54,110 | 50 | 50 |
| Round of 64 | €31,585 | 25 | 10 |
The €1 million winner’s check represents one of the richest prizes in tennis outside the Grand Slams. More on the 2026 Italian Open prize money.
Where to Watch the 2026 Italian Open?
United States
- TV: Tennis Channel (all matches live)
- Streaming: Tennis Channel Plus, Fubo TV, DirecTV Stream
- ATP Only: Tennis TV (subscription required)
- WTA Only: WTA TV
United Kingdom
- TV: Sky Sports Tennis, Sky Sports Main Event
- Streaming: Sky Go (free for Sky subscribers), NOW TV
- Start Time: Matches begin 9:00 AM BST
Italy
- Free TV: Rai 2 (selected matches), TV8 (one match per day)
- Pay TV: Sky Italia (full coverage)
- Streaming: Rai Play (free, limited coverage), Sky Go, NOW
Canada
Australia
- TV/Streaming: beIN Sports
Global Streaming
- Tennis TV – ATP matches only (available worldwide except certain regions)
- WTA TV – Women’s matches in regions without exclusive broadcaster
- Bet365 – Live streaming with funded account (check regional availability)
Other Regions
- Europe: Eurosport (varies by country)
- Asia: Sony Sports (India), Youku (China)
- Latin America: ESPN International
Most broadcasters offer both live streaming and on-demand replays throughout the tournament.
Recent Champions
The past five editions have featured five different men’s champions:
- 2025: Carlos Alcaraz
- 2024: Alexander Zverev
- 2023: Daniil Medvedev
- 2022: Novak Djokovic
- 2021: Rafael Nadal
Key Storylines to Watch at the 2026 Italian Open
Can Sinner Complete the Golden Masters at Home?
The pressure will be immense. Home crowds, historic opportunity, and the weight of expectation all converge. Sinner has never won a title in Italy at Masters level despite his four Grand Slams and eight other Masters trophies.
Swiatek’s Rome Dominance
The Polish star has won three Rome titles. Can she make it four? Her recent coaching change and early-season form suggest she’s evolved her game while maintaining clay dominance.
Djokovic’s Return
The 38-year-old hasn’t played since Indian Wells in March. Rome marks his return to competition as he prepares for one final French Open run. A previous Rome champion, Djokovic knows how to win here, but can his body hold up after the layoff?
New Clay Court Order?
With Alcaraz injured and Nadal retired, the clay court hierarchy is reshuffling. Can anyone challenge Sinner? Zverev, Fils, and Musetti all enter with strong spring form.