Aryna Sabalenka Headlines 2026 Italian Open Entry List as Jasmine Paolini Defends Home Title

Aryna Sabalenka leads the 2026 Italian Open entry list in Rome as Jasmine Paolini defends her title. See the full seeds, draw dates, and withdrawal updates.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 3:34 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

The Second Leg of the Clay Swing Triple Header

Professional women's tennis shifts its focus to Rome as the Italian Open prepares to host the world's elite players at the historic Foro Italico. Positioned as a critical precursor to the French Open, the tournament follows the conclusion of action in Madrid. This year's event carries significant local interest following last year's victory by Jasmine Paolini, who became the first Italian woman to win the title since 1985. Paolini enters the 2026 edition as the ninth seed, aiming to defend her crown against a field that features four other former champions, including three-time winner Iga Swiatek.

Structural Overview of the 96-Player Draw

The Italian Open operates as a high-stakes WTA 1000 event, utilizing a comprehensive 96-player singles format. Under this structure, the top 32 players are awarded seeded positions and receive an automatic bye into the second round of competition. The entry list is primarily composed of 75 players gaining access via their professional rankings, supplemented by 12 qualifiers and eight wildcard entries. Notably, all eight wildcards for the 2026 tournament have been granted to Italian athletes, while veteran Karolina Pliskova utilized a protected ranking to secure her place in the main draw.

Elite Seedings and the Top Ten Contenders

Seedings for the tournament were determined by the WTA Rankings as of April 20, 2024. World number one Aryna Sabalenka occupies the top spot in the bracket, followed closely by second seed Elena Rybakina and third seed Coco Gauff. The top ten is rounded out by a mix of established champions and rising talents, including Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, and Elina Svitolina. Youthful energy is represented by Mirra Andreeva and Victoria Mboko, who have both secured top-ten seeding positions for the prestigious clay-court event.