The Italian Open sees the best men's and women's players take to the red clay for what is the last major event before the second Grand Slam tournament of the year, the French Open in Paris.
The men's and women's events in Rome are at ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 level and a total of 96 players, including qualifiers and wildcards, will enter the main singles draws.
This is the 83rd edition of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.
Carlos Alcaraz was the men's Italian Open champion in 2025, beating home favourite Jannik Sinner in the final, but injury means the Spaniard will not defend the title.
Italian ace Jasmine Paolini was the winner of the women's event 12 months ago, seeing off American Coco Gauff to lift the trophy.
Italian Open Dates
The main draw of the Italian Open kicks off on Tuesday May 5, 2026, starting with women's matches. The men's main draw begins a day later and the event runs until Sunday May 17, 2026.
Italian Open Format
The top 32 players will be seeded, receiving a bye in the first round and potentially facing another seeded opponent no earlier than the third round.
The main draw will also feature players who advance through the two-round qualifying tournament. There are also multiple wildcards in both the men's and women's fields.
Italian Open Venue & Location
The Italian Open takes place at the Foro Italico sports complex in Rome and the tennis facilities centre around the Stadio Centrale, which has a capacity for 10,500 spectators.
The Foro Italico also houses the Stadio Olimpico, host stadium for the 1960 Summer Olympics and now the home of the Italian rugby team.
It also hosts music concerts and other events.
On the slopes of Monte Mario, Foro Italico is located to the north-west of Rome.
Italian Open Prize Money
Men's singles
Winner | $1,178,316 |
Runner-up | $626,667 |
Semi-finalist | $348,151 |
Quarter-finalist | $198,174 |
Round One | $24,904 |
Women's singles
Winner | $1,026,451 |
Runner-up | $534,439 |
Semi-finalist | $281,240 |
Quarter-finalist | $145,896 |
Round One | $15,385 |
Where to watch the Italian Open
The 2026 Italian Open will be available for US viewers to watch on the Tennis Channel, which can be streamed on Fubo and DirecTV.
History
The Italian Open was established in 1930 and remains as one of marquee events outside of the Grand Slams. The clay court event serves as the last major test before the French Open, the second Grand Slam event on the calendar.
The event began in Milan before moving to Rome's Foro Italico in 1935 and it was formerly part of the Grand Prix Tennis Tour, but became a combined ATP and WTA event back in 2011.
Since 2023, the Italian Open has joined other ATP Masters events like the Miami Open and Indian Wells in being extended to 12 days.
Former champions
Rafael Nadal is the most successful men's player with 10 tournament wins. The King of Clay last won the outdoor clay-court tournament back in 2021, leaving Novak Djokovic, with six wins, as the most successful active player.
United States great Chris Evert holds the record for most title wins (5) and most final appearances (7) in the women's event - her last title triumph came in 1982.
Paolini (2025) became the first Italian women to win the event since Raffaella Reggi in 1985, with Adriano Panatta in 1976 the most recent Italian winner of the men's event.
Last 10 winners
Year | Men's winner | Women's winner |
2025 | Carlos Alcaraz | Jasmine Paolini |
2024 | Alexander Zverev | Iga Swiatek |
2023 | Daniil Medvedev | Elena Rybakina |
2022 | Novak Djokovic | Iga Swiatek |
2021 | Rafael Nadal | Iga Swiatek |
2020 | Novak Djokovic | Simona Halep |
2019 | Rafael Nadal | Karolina Pliskova |
2018 | Rafael Nadal | Elina Svitolina |
2017 | Alexander Zverev | Elina Svitolina |
2016 | Andy Murray | Serena Williams |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time
