Emma Raducanu has been placed in a second‑round clash with either Argentina's Solana Sierra, who is currently ranked No. 72 in the world, or a qualifier at the Italian Open in Rome. This draw marks her first appearance in a tournament since March and her inaugural foray onto the red clay this season. The British No.
1 is making her comeback to the WTA Tour after a prolonged spell away that began at Indian Wells, where she was forced to withdraw following a bout of viral illness. The health setback extended her time off the circuit, and she also pulled out of the Mutua Madrid Open earlier this month, citing a right‑hand injury that prevented her from competing on the clay swing. With a first‑round bye, Raducanu will step onto the court in round two. If she faces Sierra, she will be up against a solid baseliner who has been making steady progress on the tour.
Should a qualifier emerge, the British star will need to adapt quickly to an opponent whose form is often unpredictable but can be dangerous on clay. Assuming she advances, the most likely third‑round opponent for Raducanu is the reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff, who is currently ranked No. 3 in the world. The potential quarter‑final showdown could see her meet Mirra Andreeva, the finalist from Madrid and the highest‑ranked possible adversary in that section of the draw.
In the same half, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is positioned, meaning Raducanu could eventually encounter the Belarusian powerhouse if she continues her run.
Last year, Raducanu enjoyed her deepest run at the Rome event, reaching the fourth round before being stopped by Gauff. This year, she will be eager to improve on that performance and demonstrate that she can translate her hard‑court success to the slower, more demanding clay surface. In preparation for the tournament, Raducanu spent the previous week training at the Ferrer Tennis Academy near Alicante, Spain, under the guidance of coach Andrew Richardson.
Richardson was the mentor who stood beside her when she famously captured the US Open title as a qualifier in 2021, a historic achievement that thrust her into the global spotlight. While Richardson remains a key figure in her camp, Raducanu has also been working regularly with hitting partner Alexis Canter after parting ways with longtime coach Francisco Roig. She briefly reunited with Mark Petchey during Indian Wells in March, but her primary focus in Rome is under the watchful eye of her childhood coach, Jane O'Donoghue, who is helping to fine‑tune her clay‑court tactics.
The British women's field also includes promising players such as Sonay Kartal (ranked 56) and Katie Boulter (ranked 60). Boulter, the current British No.
3, arrives in Rome after a strong start to the clay season, highlighted by a quarter‑final appearance in Rouen and a victory at the Madrid Open. She will open her campaign against Germany's Eva Lys. On the men's side, Cameron Norrie, the British No.
1, has built momentum this year with a third‑round showing at the Australian Open, quarter‑final runs at Indian Wells and Barcelona, and a return to the top 20. Norrie enjoys a first‑round bye at the Italian Open. Other British men—Jacob Fearnley, Jan Choinski, Jack Pinnington‑Jones, and Billy Harris—are battling through qualifying rounds in hopes of joining the main draw.
The men's draw features a potential blockbuster final between world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic. Sinner, who has not played since his loss to Jack Draper at Indian Wells in March, is aiming to complete the Career Golden Masters by winning the Foro Italico, a feat previously achieved only by Djokovic. The Serbian legend, now 38, has already secured each of the nine ATP Masters 1000 titles twice and is looking to add another Italian Masters crown to his extensive résumé.
The tournament schedule kicks off with the women's matches on Tuesday, May 5, followed by the men's competition starting on Wednesday, May 6. Live coverage will be available on Sky Sports Tennis, with streaming options through NOW and the Sky Sports app, offering subscribers more than 50% additional live sport this year at no extra charge. Day sessions begin at 10 a.m., while evening sessions start at 6 p.m., and the event will culminate with the finals weekend on May 16 and 17.
Overall, Emma Raducanu's return to competitive tennis is a narrative that blends anticipation, resilience, and the desire to prove herself on a new surface. With a supportive coaching team, a solid training base, and a draw that offers both challenging and attainable opponents, she has the opportunity to make a significant statement in Rome. Whether she advances to face Gauff in the third round or falls short, her performance will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike as an indicator of her form heading into the remainder of the clay‑court season.