Rome serves up a set of compelling rematches and contrasts as the clay swing continues in 2026. The most anticipated pairing rekindles a moment that remains vivid from two years ago in Paris: Osaka led Swiatek 5-2 in the third set before the Pole rallied to win. They meet again on Monday in Rome. Both are multiple major winners and former No. 1s, and during the pandemic they were IG Live buddies. As opponents, they have met three times with Swiatek claiming two wins. After both posted dominant victories this weekend, form appears encouraging for each. Osaka brings more power to the duel, while Swiatek is the superior mover, defender and dirt-baller. Prediction: Swiatek. Estimated start time: 12:00 p.m.

The second match on the slate pairs two American players at different stages of their trajectories. This is the first of what should be many meetings between these U.S. prodigies past and present. For Jovic, it is an opportunity to test herself against her country’s No. 1. At 18, she has already halved her ranking this season, falling from 35 to 17, and she has shown that her 5-foot-7 frame can pack a top-tier punch. For Gauff, the occasion is complicated by recent personal matters; on Saturday, she admitted to a lack of motivation due to an unnamed personal issue. Coco is faster and more seasoned on clay, but she will need her best tennis against a hungry opponent. Prediction: Gauff. Estimated start time: 6:30 a.m.

The third preview highlights a striking contrast in form. Sinner arrives at Rome with a 31-2 record in 2026 and a 24-match win streak. Popyrin has endured a difficult stretch, sitting 6-11 with eight first-round losses. Still, there are nuances worth noting: Popyrin pushed Sinner to a 7-5 second set in Doha this year, owns the only clay win between them from 2021, and wields a heavy-topspin forehand that can seize the initiative. Even so, beating the in-form Italian will be a tall order. Prediction: Sinner. Estimated start time: 9:00 a.m.

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.

Three long-serving ATP figures arrive at Roland Garros under the pallor of endings rather than beginnings. David Goffin, Gaël Monfils and Stan Wawrinka each head into what may be their final French Open appearances, and the tournament will mark the close of distinct careers that have shaped the last decade and more.

David Goffin, 35, remains prized for a crafty, silken style that earned him the nickname “the magician.” A former world No. 7, a three-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist and a six-time tour titlist, Goffin built a reputation as a Davis Cup standout with a 29-6 record and singles wins over Marin Cilic, Nick Kyrgios and Jo Wilfried Tsonga. His breakout Paris run came as a 21-year-old lucky loser in 2012, when he took a set from Roger Federer and advanced to the fourth round after slipping into the draw when Gael Monfils withdrew. Now ranked No. 236, Goffin is on an undeclared retirement tour, seeking entry via qualifying or a wild card. “I would have liked to continue for a few more years, but it’s complicated… I realized it was the moment (to retire) for me. I didn’t feel good anymore, and once you realize that, making the decision is easy.” He added, “There is something inside that it’s released, and I like what I feel.”

Gaël Monfils, 39, will arrive as the showman and a national icon. A two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, Monfils has collected 13 Tour-level titles and reached a career-high No. 6 in November 2016. His Roland Garros highlights include a 2008 semifinal and a five-set 2014 quarterfinal against Andy Murray that finished late in darkness. Ranked No. 200 on May 1, Monfils is expected to receive a wild card. After falling out of the top 50 at the end of 2024, he stunned by winning Auckland in 2025, becoming the oldest ATP player to claim a tour-level title since Ken Rosewall 46 years earlier. His wife, Elina Svitolina, posted a photo of Monfils eating borsh with the caption, “Powered by Borsch.”

Stan Wawrinka, 41, leaves as one of the game’s great romantics and a three-time Grand Slam champion, including Roland Garros in 2015. He has said, “The Big Four, I’m really far from them. Just look at the tournament they won, how many years they’ve been there. . . How many Masters 1000 (does) Murray have? They have been there since ten years. They have not only been winning, but being in the semifinal, final every time. That’s why I’m not there. I don’t want to be there. For me, there is no question about that. But I’m trying the best I can with my career.” After Monte Carlo he told reporters, “This was not my first warm-up, not my first practice, the repetition, sometimes the traveling… Of course I could talk a lot about all these aspects, but at the end of the day, being a tennis player, it’s a chance. It’s something amazing… I always dreamed about that. I’m 41 and I’m still doing it because I enjoy that. It’s not easy to keep pushing myself, but at the end of the day, I love it. So I’m okay with everything.”

Their departures will be observed keenly in Paris, where each has left an unmistakable imprint on the clay.