Italian Open 2026: Upsets for Top Women, Sinner Leads Men’s Draw

Sabalenka out

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and defending champ Jasmine Paolini were upset in Rome, while Jannik Sinner takes the court aiming to extend his 24-match winning streak.

Aryna Sabalenka, Jasmine Paolini, and Zheng Qinwen all exited early in Rome. Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev headline the men’s action with wins and a walkover...

Jasmine Paolini’s run as defending champion at the Italian Open ended early on Saturday when she fell in the third round to Elise Mertens. Minutes later, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was also sent packing, losing to Sorana Cirstea.

Playing in front of a disappointed home crowd on centre court, Paolini dropped a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 decision to Mertens after a match filled with unforced errors.

The 30-year-old is on track to fall out of the WTA top 10 after failing to make the fourth round for the fourth straight tournament.

Paolini swept both the singles and doubles titles in Rome last year, but her 2025 campaign has been marked by a string of early losses, a far cry from that form.

The turning point came when she couldn’t convert three match points on Mertens’ serve at 6-5 in the second set. She then dropped the first two points of the tiebreak and couldn’t regain momentum.

Mertens, who was beaten by Paolini and Sara Errani in last year’s doubles final, could meet eighth seed Mirra Andreeva in the next round.

Top Seeds Fall in Rome

Aryna Sabalenka’s day ended in upset as the world No. 1 was beaten by Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the third round. China’s Zheng Qinwen also exited after Jelena Ostapenko came from a set down to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

‼️UPSET ALERT IN CAMPO CENTRALE‼️

Sorana Cirstea knocks out World No. 1 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 to advance on in Rome.#IBI26 pic.twitter.com/sT4ISuVwxg

— wta (@WTA) May 9, 2026

Coco Gauff, who lost to Paolini in last year’s final, needed just over two hours to edge Argentina’s Solana Sierra 5-7, 6-0, 6-4. 

The reigning French Open champion and world No. 4 will now face either fellow American Taylor Townsend or qualifier Iva Jovic for a spot in the next round.

It’s been a tough clay swing for Gauff so far. She was knocked out in the Madrid Open last 16 and reached only the quarter-finals in Stuttgart.

A roller coaster match! 🎢@CocoGauff gets the job done against Sierra!#IBI26 pic.twitter.com/RrD1BhYz4W

— wta (@WTA) May 9, 2026

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Jannik Sinner Faces Centre Court Spotlight

Jannik Sinner steps onto centre court later Saturday as the clear favorite to keep his streak alive, aiming for a fifth straight Masters 1000 title.

Wonder who’s on the practice court 👀🦊#IBI26 pic.twitter.com/YERdmqnOLA

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 9, 2026

Ofner Tasked With Stopping the Streak

Austria’s Sebastian Ofner is the man trying to end Sinner’s 24-match winning run. Most expect the Italian to wrap it up in straight sets.

Home Hope After 50 Years

No Italian man has won in Rome since Adriano Panatta in 1975. With Carlos Alcaraz out, Sinner has a chance to go one step further than his runner-up finish here last year against his rival.

Medvedev Advances by Walkover

Former champion Daniil Medvedev moves into the third round without hitting a ball. His scheduled opener against Tomas Machac was called off after Machac withdrew with an illness.