The clay swing heads to Rome in May for the Italian Open as preparations continue for the French Open. The tournament is the last big event before players make their way to Roland-Garros, which starts on May 26. Last year, Daniil Medvedev and Elena Rybakina claimed the singles titles, but the question remains whether they will repeat their triumphs this season. The Italian Open will feature almost all the top stars from both the ATP and WTA tours, making it a highly anticipated event for tennis fans.
Qualifying for the Italian Open will start on May 6, with the main draw beginning on May 8. The finals will be held on the weekend of May 18. The 32 seeds will receive a first-round bye and will enter the tournament in the second round. Play will start at 10am UK time every day until May 16 when it will begin at midday. Evening sessions will also take place starting at 6pm each day, leading up to the finals weekend when play starts at midday on both days. The draw for the Italian Open is expected to be held on May 6.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are set to play in Rome, making it their first clay tournament since the 2022 French Open, where Nadal emerged as the victor. Djokovic, a 10-time winner of the Italian Open, has missed the Madrid Open and only played in Monte Carlo, where he reached the semifinals. This event may be his final appearance at the tournament before a potential retirement. Both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have injury concerns heading into the Italian Open, but fans are hopeful that they will recover in time to compete.
Defending champion Daniil Medvedev will be joined by top players like Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Casper Ruud at the Italian Open. On the women’s side, past champions Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka will lead the draw. Elena Rybakina, the winner in 2023, will aim to continue her strong start to the season with another title run. World No. 3 Coco Gauff will look to close the gap on Swiatek if she performs well in Rome, while Emma Raducanu’s participation remains uncertain.
The 2024 French Open main draw is set to start on May 26, with the tournament spanning 15 days instead of the usual 14. The singles finals will be held on the weekend of June 8. Play will commence at 10am UK time every day except during finals weekend, when there will be an evening session at 7.15pm UK time. Tennis fans can catch all the action, including the French Open, live on discovery+.
