Internazionali d’Italia 2026 at the Foro Italico: when do Sinner, Djokovic and Paolini play and how much do the tickets cost?

Fifty years old. It’s been a long time since an Italian won the men’s singles at the Internazionali d’Italia, the last time was Adriano Panatta in 1976. In the meantime the women took care of it, with Jasmine Paolini who won the title in 2025, both in singles and doubles – the latter with Sara Errani – and who returns to the Foro Italico as the reigning champion.

The 83rd edition of the tournament, scheduled from 6 to 17 May 2026 (qualifying started on 28 April), opens with this expectation in the background and with a scoreboard that, for once, could really smile on the Azzurri.

The great absentee

The defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz, will not be there. The Spaniard, who beat Sinner in the final twelve months ago, had to raise the white flag due to a wrist problem – encountered during the Barcelona tournament – which forced him to give up the Madrid Masters and which will cause him to miss both Rome and Roland Garros (there is also talk of a possible defection at the Wimbledon tournament). An absence that changes the balance of power quite clearly.

Sinner: number 1 aims for the missing title

Jannik Sinner arrives on the Capitoline red clay as world number one, a position he regained after the triumph in Monte Carlo – where, to close a circle, he beat Alcaraz in the final. The Roman circle, however, remains open: finalist in 2025, defeated in two sets by Alcaraz himself, the South Tyrolean has not yet lifted the trophy at the Foro Italico.

As a top seed, Sinner benefits from a bye in the first round and takes the field directly in the second. The window indicated is between 8 and 9 May, although the exact date depends on the official draw, which takes place close to the start of the main draw after the qualifiers on 4-5 May. The certain times will be published on the official website of the tournament.

Djokovic: six titles, no nostalgia

Novak Djokovic is the active player with the most laurels at the Foro Italico, six titles, the last of which in 2023. Current number 4 in the ATP ranking, the Serbian comes to Rome without the label of favorite but with the reputation of someone who has won more times on this surface than anyone else still competing.

His debut is expected in the same window as Sinner – 8 or 9 May – also for him by virtue of the bye guaranteed by seeding. Nothing definitive until the draw.

Sabalenka: the title she’s missing

On the women’s front, the WTA 1000 main draw starts on May 5th, with the final scheduled for the 16th. Aryna Sabalenka leads the seeding as world number one and arrives in Rome with an open account, given that she has never won at the Foro Italico, where she can boast a semifinal in 2022 and the final in 2024.

Seeded number 1, he takes to the field in the second round, with debut expected around May 8th. Here too, everything is subject to the draw.

Paolini: the defense of the throne

Jasmine Paolini returns to the Foro Italico as the reigning champion with the specific weight of someone who knows what it means to win here, in front of this audience.

Eighth in the WTA ranking, she enters directly into the second round: her debut is scheduled between 7 and 8 May, also dependent on the draw.

How to follow the tournament on TV

Sky Sport holds the broadcast rights until 2028 for both scoreboards, with full coverage on Sky Sport Tennis (203), Sky Sport Uno (201) and Sky Sport Arena (204); streaming on NOW and Sky Go. Rai 2 will broadcast a selection of free-to-air matches, the women’s tournament is accessible for free on SuperTennis and streaming on SupertenniX, the men’s also on Tennis TV for subscribers.

Tickets – from 5 euros for the secondary courts to 2,063 euros for the final at the Central Court – can be purchased on the official website. The drawing of the scoreboards will clarify the complete picture. For now, with Alcaraz out and Sinner fit, the Foro Italico waits.