Home ROME ATP - SINGLES TENNIS Rome Masters 2026: Swiatek Survives Scare, Zverev Cruises, Djokovic Back

Rome Masters 2026: Swiatek Survives Scare, Zverev Cruises, Djokovic Back

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Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek battles into Rome Third round after tough win over McNally 

Iga Swiatek recovered from a second-set wobble to beat Caty McNally 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 and advance at the Italian Open. She next faces Navarro or Cocciaretto.


Alexander Zverev eased past Daniel Altmaier to reach round three in Rome. Novak Djokovic makes his clay debut vs Dino Prizmic after a shoulder layoff...


Alexander Zverev advanced to the third round of the Italian Open on Friday with a straight-sets win over compatriot Daniel Altmaier, 7-5, 6-3.


The two-time Rome champion needed 1 hour 45 minutes to get past Altmaier, who is still searching for his first ATP title and couldn’t match the second seed.


Zverev arrives in Rome carrying momentum after making the Madrid final last week. He sits in the opposite half of the draw to tournament favorite Jannik Sinner.


At 29, Zverev has already lost to Sinner four times at Masters 1000 events this season. If he wants to claim a third Rome crown after wins in 2017 and 2024, he’ll likely have to go through the Italian again.




Novak Djokovic will play his first clay match of the year against 20-year-old Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic.


The 38-year-old hasn’t competed since a round-of-16 exit at Indian Wells in March. He withdrew from Miami, Monte Carlo, and Madrid while dealing with a shoulder issue.


Three-time Rome champion Iga Swiatek fought her way into the women’s third round, edging Caty McNally 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3.


Swiatek was broken immediately at the Foro Italico but responded by winning the next six games to take control against the world No. 63 American.


Swiatek steadies herself after late wobble

Iga Swiatek looked set for a straightforward win after going up 4-2 in the second set, but McNally broke her twice while she served for the match and then claimed the tie-break.


Swiatek regained the edge by breaking for 3-1 in the third set. McNally pulled back to 3-3, but Swiatek closed out the match by taking the last three games, letting out a clear sigh of relief as she secured her spot in the next round.


“It was a tough match, Caty really played great,” said Swiatek.


“I had to be patient. For sure, some mistakes happened. It was not an easy match. I'm really happy I was solid at the end and in the important moments. I kept it together.”



Swiatek will face either US 28th seed Emma Navarro or Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto this weekend for a spot in the round of 16.


The Pole’s Madrid campaign ended early last month when she retired in the third round with a viral illness, marking her earliest exit there in five appearances. She also lost at the same stage in Rome last year while defending her title.




A six-time Grand Slam winner, Swiatek hasn’t claimed a clay title since her fourth French Open victory in 2024.


Alexandra Eala of the Philippines moved on after beating China’s 31st seed Wang Xinyu 6-4, 6-3.




Canada’s 10th seed Victoria Mboko pulled out of the tournament on Friday due to illness and will be replaced in the draw by Czech lucky loser Nikola Bartunkova.



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