Iga Swiatek survived a stern test from Caty McNally to advance at the Italian Open in Rome, winning 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3. Elena Rybakina showed class, beating Maria Sakkari in relatively easy two sets. Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula cruised past Zeynep Sonmez 6-4, 6-0, and Madison Keys rallied from a set down to defeat fellow American Peyton Stearns in three sets.
Swiatek battles through difficult start
The world No. 3's opening match in Rome was marked by extraordinary circumstances off court, as coach Francisco Roig defied medical logic to be present just days after tearing his Achilles tendon. The injury occurred during a lighthearted practice match at Piazza del Popolo, where Swiatek and her 58-year-old coach played a half-court set with a 100-euro wager. When Swiatek began moving Roig around while leading 5-4, the worst possible scenario unfolded on match point - Roig split-stepped and tore his right Achilles. Despite the severity of the injury requiring surgery, the veteran coach missed just one practice session and was back courtside for this match. On court, Swiatek faced a resilient McNally who pushed her to nearly three hours, with the Pole struggling particularly in the second set tiebreak where she lost 7-5. The American's tiebreak prowess - she's now 4-0 in tiebreaks on clay over the past 12 months - nearly forced a decider before Swiatek regrouped to win the third set. The match highlighted Swiatek's ongoing struggles with consistency, winning 7 of 15 break point opportunities and getting through 20 pressure points faced on serve. It's second back-to-back win over McNally in three sets after Wimbledon 2025. In July last year, Swiatek has clinched the trophy, but is yet to make her first run even into semifinals in 2026. She plays against the home representative Elisabetta Cocciaretto in next round. The Italian has easily defated Emma Navarro by 6-3 6-3. The American was never up in the scoreline, as Cocciaretto looked like having a full control of this match. Navarro continues her poor 2026 season with just 4 wins in 14 matches played, dropping down in the rankings. Cocciaretto will try to capitalize on Swiatek's vulnerabilities, getting the energy from home crowd in round of 32 match-up.
Rybakina crushes Sakkari in commanding display
Elena Rybakina delivered a statement performance against Maria Sakkari, winning 6-4, 6-1 in a match that was far more lopsided than the first set score suggested. The Kazakh star's exceptional clay court form continued - she now boasts a 15-3 record on the surface over the past 12 months. Rybakina's serve was virtually untouchable, winning 72% of first serve points and firing five aces while committing just two double faults. Most impressively, she faced minimal pressure throughout the encounter, winning four of eight serve pressure points while dominating on return with 14 of 23 return pressure points won. The victory improved her head-to-head record against Sakkari to 6-1, with the Greek struggling on clay with just a 2-5 record over the past year. Alexandra Eala is next for Rybakina in round of 32. The Kazakh will try to continue build on a good start of clay season including WTA 500 title in Stuttgart in the ultimate test before Roland Garros as the most recent Grand Slam champion heading into Paris.
Eala reaches career's clay milestone
Alexandra Eala made Philippine tennis history, becoming the first player from her country to reach the third round of the Italian Open with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Xinyu Wang. The milestone win came after Eala overcame a sluggish start that saw her trail 3-0 in the opening set, demonstrating the fighting spirit that has characterized her breakthrough 2026 season. Her tactical adjustments after the early deficit were impressive, winning six of the next seven games to claim the first set before maintaining momentum throughout the second. This represents her first WTA 1000 third-round appearance on clay, surpassing her previous best results in Madrid and Rome. It's still far from matching best result on hard at this level from last year's semifinal in Miami, but it's a prove of the steady progress of the player from Phillipines.
Potapova continues Madrid form with Muchova upset
Anastasia Potapova maintained her excellent clay-court momentum with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory over 11th seed Karolina Muchova, extending her impressive run that began as a lucky loser in Madrid. Fresh from reaching the Madrid semifinals where she upset Elena Rybakina, Potapova showed the same resilience that has characterized her recent clay-court surge. The Russian's ability to escape difficult situations was on full display - she saved seven of eight break points while converting four of eleven opportunities against Muchova. A crucial six-game swing from 4-3 down to 6-3, 4-0 ahead showcased her mental fortitude, as she turned the match completely around when it mattered most. Potapova's clay-court record now stands at an impressive 12-4 over the past 12 months, and she's riding a four-match winning streak. The victory continues what has become the tour's "comeback swing" on clay, with nine wins from match point down since April making this surface the epicenter of dramatic escapes in 2026.
Pegula clinical in comprehensive victory
Jessica Pegula delivered one of the day's most polished performances, dismantling Zeynep Sonmez 6-4, 6-0 in just 72 minutes of clinical tennis. The fifth seed faced minimal resistance after an initially competitive first set, winning an exceptional 14 of 17 return pressure points to dominate proceedings. Pegula's serving was equally impressive in the second set, dropping only two points on her first serve while maintaining relentless pressure on the Sonmez delivery. The American's ability to raise her level after saving the lone break point she faced - serving for the first set - demonstrated the composure that has seen her compile an 11-4 clay-court record over the past 12 months. An eight-point winning streak broke open the first set, beginning with a backhand return winner off Sonmez's second serve, and Pegula never looked back from there.
Keys survives American battle, Stearns slides down
Madison Keys showcased her fighting spirit to overcome compatriot Peyton Stearns 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 after trailing by a set and a break. The 19th seed's powerful groundstrokes eventually wore down Stearns' resistance, though not before facing a stern examination that lasted over two and a half hours. Keys' serving was a decisive factor, firing seven aces although managed to win just 17 of 32 serve pressure points faced throughout whole the match. The victory was particularly satisfying given Stearns held a 2-1 head-to-head advantage coming into the match, including a victory earlier this year in Auckland. Keys' improved clay-court form - now 9-3 on the surface over the past 12 months - suggests she's finding her rhythm on the terre battue ahead of the French Open. For Stearns, leaving Rome at this stage is a huge disappointment after last year's sensational run to semifinals. The younger of Americans did not follow this run with other big successes throughout the ranking period and getting about 350 points dropped from ranking tally means a huge slide down from top 50 to at best 91st in current live rankings.