The opening week of a Masters 1000 usually unfolds gently: media days, relaxed practice sessions and players reconnecting with the sport in ways that still resemble their childhood clubs. Rome, however, quickly shifted tone. Early exits for both Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka stunned the Foro Italico and opened the draw far sooner than expected. Here, we take in Rome’s charm before the knockouts begin to leave their mark.
Picture it: Rome in spring. Warm sunlight suddenly replaced by heavy clouds, rain interrupting play without warning. You sit at the Foro Italico, beside the Tiber, wondering why this remains the tour’s most enchanting venue. Perhaps it is the sense that anything can happen, or the feeling of watching tennis’ elite inside a modern arena shaped like an ancient colosseum.
Rome has long attracted the sport’s most privileged players - a place where history folds naturally into modern tennis and Italy turns the game into spectacle. While Living Sports explored the Foro Italico’s landmarks last year, this edition has revealed something different: the tournament’s growing ability to bring fans closer to the event, both on-site and online.
Online, the tournament’s “vase crash challenge” has become its most engaged social media moment The concept was simple: players were shown an ancient Roman vase by an archaeologist, only for it to be suddenly dropped to the floor, triggering panic and laughter in equal measure. Fronted by Zizou Bergs and developed alongside the ATP and WTA, the challenge reflects a wider push to connect tennis with younger audiences through personality-driven content.
The strategy is far from accidental. In February 2025, the ATP partnered with Overtime, the digital media powerhouse known for its NBA and NFL coverage. The collaboration reportedly generated over 80 million views across TikTok and Instagram in its first year, while ATP social channels gained more than a million followers. Those numbers convinced ATP CEO Enzo Polo to extend the partnership into 2026, with Rome now acting as one of its clearest showcases. Tune into the Internazionali BNL d’Italia Instagram to understand how tennis’ digital ambitions are bringing Gen Z to the sport.
The tour had waited weeks for Novak Djokovic’s return. Sidelined since his fourth-round defeat to Jack Draper at Indian Wells, the Serbian chose Rome - a tournament he has won six times - to step back onto court. For a set, the rhythm looked familiar against Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic. Then the energy disappeared. Illness appeared to unsettle Djokovic, whose movement faded as the match progressed, allowing Prižmić to turn the encounter around 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
The defeat removes the clearest obstacle to Jannik Sinner’s current dominance at Masters 1000 level. With both Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz absent from contention, the draw feels increasingly open beneath Sinner, yet strangely closed at the very top. The Italian remains overwhelming favourite as he pursues a sixth consecutive Masters 1000 title.
The WTA draw delivered its own shock. World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka suffered her earliest tournament exit in 15 months, falling in the third round to Sorana Cîrstea after struggling with lower-back and hip discomfort through the deciding set. Like Djokovic earlier in the weekend, Sabalenka saw the match slip away after taking the opener, with Cîrstea completing the comeback 2–6, 6–3, 7–5.
The women’s draw now opens considerably. Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek emerge as the leading contenders, though Gauff first faces Madrid finalist Mirra Andreeva in one of the tournament’s most anticipated quarter-finals.
The Rome Open runs until Sunday, 17 May and it’s a ATP & WTA tournament.
