The Internazionali BNL d’Italia offers three compelling matchups to watch. First up is Elena Rybakina against Alexandra Eala, a contrast of established firepower and rising punch. After early-season successes Rybakina arrives with lofty goals: to win her first Roland Garros and take over No. 1. Her momentum took a hit in Madrid, where she was surprised by Anastasia Potapova. That loss raises the question of whether it will dent her confidence. Eala brings penetrating pace that can force defenders into uncomfortable positions, but Rybakina sits 40 ranking spots higher, owns a Rome title and is 28-6 this season. Rybakina’s serve is the clearest buffer if rallies tighten. Estimated start time: 8:10 a.m. Prediction: Rybakina.

The second match pits the two Alexanders: Alexander Zverev, the German veteran, and Alexander Blockx, the Belgian rookie. They met for the first time last week in Madrid, where the older Alexander prevailed 6-2, 7-5. “I think I had it under control from the start,” Zverev said, after using his rangy consistency to blunt Blockx’s potent attack. Blockx battled early nerves in that meeting, and he should be calmer this time. On the other side, Zverev is a two-time Rome champion and appears to have his clay groove back. That combination of experience and recent form makes him the favorite. Estimated start time: 8:10 a.m. Prediction: Zverev.

The day’s third encounter features a power-baseline duel between 19-year-old Jodar and 25-year-old Flavio Arnaldi. Jodar has been on a tear since March and looked sharp in his Rome opener. Arnaldi was highly touted as a teen before injury slowed his progress; he is ranked 106, recently won a Challenger on clay and upset Alex de Minaur on Friday. Playing in front of a boisterous home crowd should buoy Arnaldi, but Jodar’s superior weaponry and form since March make him the one to watch. Estimated start time: 8:10 a.m. Prediction: Jodar.

Mirra Andreeva marked a significant career milestone in Rome, recording the 50th WTA 1000 victory of her young career with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-0 third-round win over Viktorija Golubic. The result arrived as the No. 8 seed continued an eye-catching clay campaign that has her 14-2 on the surface this season.

Andreeva, who only just turned 19 years old 10 days ago, has translated that clay form into deep runs and a title this spring. Her results this season include the Linz title, a semifinal in Stuttgart and a final appearance in Madrid last week. The Italian Open win advances her to at least the fourth round in Rome and leaves her one victory short of her 10th WTA 1000 quarterfinal.

The WTA 1000 tier has been a strong suit for Andreeva. She already owns two WTA 1000 titles from Dubai and Indian Wells last year and reached her third WTA 1000 final in Madrid the previous week. Across her career she has compiled 116 tour-level wins, with 81 coming at Grand Slams or WTA 1000 events. That total breaks down to a 31-12 record at the majors and now 50-21 at WTA 1000 tournaments. At other tour-level events she is 35-16.

Standing between the No. 8 seed and that 10th quarterfinal will be No. 21-seeded Elise Mertens. Earlier in the day Mertens fought past No. 9 seed and defending champion Jasmine Paolini, who she beat 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 after saving three match points down 6-5 in the second set. Paolini will now dip out of the Top 10 for the first time in almost two years, since she first broke into the elite after reaching the first Grand Slam final of her career at Roland Garros in 2024.

Iga Swiatek had stretches of vintage dominance in her Rome match with Caty McNally, racing to a 6-1 first set and opening the second 3-1 before the contest shifted. Her early intensity and control were evident, but the match repeatedly veered: break opportunities came and went, a costly double fault arrived at a pivotal moment, and McNally forced a second-set tiebreak. The final score was 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3 as Swiatek found enough consistency late to advance.

“I’m happy at the end of the match I was solid and I used the right balls to attack, but was also patient enough to stay in the rally,” she said after the win. That patience ultimately decided the contest, though the swinginess underlined the wider issue Swiatek has wrestled with this season.

McNally has a history of testing Swiatek. The American defeated her in the Roland Garros girls’ event and was the only player to take a set from her at Wimbledon last year, a background that explained her confidence on court.

The inconsistencies are part of a larger arc. Between 2022 and 2024 clay produced Swiatek’s best results, including a 21-3 record at this event and three Rome titles. In 2025 she surrendered her clay crowns in Madrid, Rome and Paris and lost the No. 1 ranking. She arrived at grass with less to defend, focused on improving rather than on protecting points, and emerged from that season holding the Wimbledon trophy.

Now the question is whether she can carry the lighter mindset from grass back to clay this spring. Recent results have been mixed: a loss to Mirra Andreeva in Stuttgart, illness in Madrid, and the up-and-down performance against McNally in Rome.

Off court, Swiatek has added Francisco Roig to her team. Roig previously worked with Rafael Nadal, and the Spaniard’s experience on clay is well known. On the alliance with Roig, Swiatek said, “I think we have the same vision of how I should play. He’s helping me to achieve that.”

Her outlook is plain and steady. “I love being here,” she says of Rome. “These are honestly the most exciting tournaments for me, also in terms of spending time off the court. I’m just enjoying life.”

She added: “I’ve been trying some different options in practices, which is great, because I wasn’t exactly comfortable with how I played a couple months back. This feels more natural and more solid and I would say kind of disciplined.”

“Honestly the most important thing for me is that I’m enjoying playing. I enjoy practicing. Every practice for me makes sense. It feels like a process and it feels like every practice I learn something new.”