Tears of joy: Joao Fonseca wins first five-setter to make dream of facing Novak Djokovic come true at Roland Garros Joao Fonseca’s emotional victory at Roland Garros marked a historic milestone in his career, as the 19-year-old Brazilian secured his first five-set match win and advanced to the third round of the tournament. The match, played on Court 14, saw Fonseca overcome a two-set deficit against 20-year-old Croatian player Dino Prizmic, ultimately prevailing 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2. This win, which came after a grueling three-and-a-half-hour battle, marked Fonseca’s 50th career victory and solidified his place in the tournament’s upper bracket. Fonseca’s journey to victory was fraught with challenges. The match began with Prizmic dominating the early stages, as the Croatian player’s powerful serve and aggressive baseline play left Fonseca struggling to find rhythm. After losing the first two sets, Fonseca admitted he was “not playing good” and that Prizmic was “destroying” him. However, the Brazilian player began to adapt his strategy in the third set, shifting his focus to aggressive returns and increasing his pressure on Prizmic’s second serve. This tactical adjustment proved pivotal, as Fonseca began to chip away at the scoreboard and eventually turned the tide in his favor. The match’s turning point came in the fourth set, where Fonseca’s ability to capitalize on return games against Prizmic’s serve allowed him to break through and take control of the match. By the fifth set, Fonseca’s confidence had fully returned, and he closed out the victory with a decisive 6-2 set. The emotional outpouring from Fonseca was evident as he celebrated his win, with fans and commentators alike praising his resilience and determination.#novak_djokovic #joao_fonseca #roland_garros #dino_prizmic #internazionali_bnl_ditalia
Men's Semifinals Set for Rome Tournament: Medvedev Faces Sinner, Ruud Takes On Darderi The Internazionali BNL d’Italia reached its semifinal stage as top players prepared for high-stakes matches in Rome. Among the key encounters, Daniil Medvedev aimed to disrupt Jannik Sinner’s momentum, while Casper Ruud sought to overcome Luciano Darderi in a clash of contrasting styles. The tournament’s final four featured a mix of established stars and rising talents, with the Italian crowd expected to play a pivotal role in shaping outcomes. Medvedev’s quarterfinal victory over Martin Landaluce showcased his ability to elevate his game to peak levels. The Russian demonstrated aggressive baseline play, precise forehands, and timely overheads, leaving his opponent in disbelief. His performance hinted at a potential breakthrough against Sinner, the tournament’s top seed. However, Medvedev faced significant challenges. His record against Sinner in their last 10 matches stood at 1-9, with no sets won in nearly two years. Additionally, Medvedev would be playing on less rest than Sinner, who had already completed his quarterfinal match earlier in the day. The Italian’s home advantage further complicated matters, as the crowd would be eager to see him secure his first national title. Sinner, meanwhile, had already navigated his own quarterfinal against Andrey Rublev. Despite a physical issue—whether a cramp, leg injury, or fatigue—he managed to save his match with sharp shot selection and a strong serve. His resilience in the face of adversity underscored his status as a formidable opponent. Analysts noted that Medvedev’s aggressive style could challenge Sinner, but the Italian’s experience and physicality made him the clear favorite. The match, set for 1:00 p.m.#jannik_sinner #daniil_medvedev #casper_ruud #internazionali_bnl_ditalia #luciano_darderi
Rafael Jódar alcanza cuartos de final del Internazionali BNL d’Italia como el jugador más joven desde Djokovic en 2007 Rafael Jódar, de 19 años y 7 meses, se convirtió este martes en el jugador más joven en llegar a cuartos de final del Internazionali BNL d’Italia, un torneo del ATP Masters 1000, desde que Novak Djokovic logró el mismo hito en 2007. El español, cabeza de serie por primera vez en su carrera en un torneo ATP Tour, avanzó con naturalidad al derrotar al estadounidense Learner Tien en dos sets (6-1, 6-4) en una hora y 15 minutos. Esta victoria lo posicionó como el tercer jugador más joven en alcanzar los cuartos de final en la historia del torneo, solo superado por Rafael Nadal en 2005 y Lleyton Hewitt en 2000. Jódar, quien ya había derrotado a Tien en la pasada edición de las Next Gen ATP Finals, demostró madurez en el campo al gestionar el partido con eficacia. Según las estadísticas Infosys ATP, el español transformó dos de las tres oportunidades de quiebre que tuvo contra Tien, quien se mostró resistente en la primera manga. En el segundo set, tras una ventaja inicial de 1-3 para el estadounidense, Jódar reaccionó con una serie de 16 puntos consecutivos, incluyendo cuatro juegos seguidos (5-3), que le permitieron asegurar la victoria. El joven madrileño ha consolidado su progresión en la gira de tierra batida, tras su primer título ATP Tour en Marrakech en abril. Desde entonces, acumula un récord de 15 victorias y 2 derrotas en superficies de tierra, incluyendo las semifinales de Barcelona y los cuartos de final en los Masters 1000 de Madrid y Roma. En el 2026, su año de actividad, ya tiene 20 victorias (20-8) y se ha posicionado como el No. 29 del PIF ATP Live Rankings, superando a Joao Fonseca (No. 30) en la generación del 2006.#novak_djokovic #rafael_jodar #rafael_nadal #internazionali_bnl_ditalia #lleyton_hewitt
School Exams to Rome Debut, Valentova Passes Both Tests Ahead of Gauff Rematch Tereza Valentova, the Czech teenager ranked within the top 50 in the PIF WTA Rankings, made her debut at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia after navigating a challenging academic schedule. Arriving in Rome just two days before her first-round match, she had to balance her tennis commitments with her high school graduation exams. The World No. 48 on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz had to pause her travel plans to complete her final exams in Prague, Czechia, arriving at the tournament grounds at 9 p.m. local time on Tuesday. “It was a little bit chaotic because I arrived at 9 p.m. yesterday, so I was doing exams [for graduation],” Valentova explained to reporters. Despite the tight schedule, Valentova secured her place in the second round with a decisive victory over Yulia Putintseva. The Czech player claimed a 6-3, 6-2 win, avenging her earlier loss to Putintseva in the Mutua Madrid Open. This win not only advanced her in the tournament but also set the stage for a high-stakes encounter with Coco Gauff, the 2025 Rome finalist and defending Roland Garros champion. The two players had last met at Roland Garros in 2025, where Gauff’s victory over Valentova contributed to her second Grand Slam title. Valentova’s path to the top 50 has been marked by her dual focus on academics and tennis. She is currently studying for her Czech secondary school diploma, requiring her to pass three exams: Czech literature, English, and economics. The exams, which she described as a “series of challenges,” have often been balanced with her tennis training. “I’ll hit the practice court before hitting the textbooks as part of my daily routine,” she noted.#coco_gauff #roland_garros #mutua_madrid_open #internazionali_bnl_ditalia #tereza_valentova
Madrid champion Kostyuk, Raducanu withdraw from Rome Two days after securing her first WTA 1000 title at the Madrid Open, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk withdrew from the Internazionali BNL d'Italia event in Rome due to a right hip injury. British player Emma Raducanu also pulled out of the Italian tournament, citing a post-viral illness. Both withdrawals came just days after their respective victories in Madrid, marking a significant setback for their clay-court campaigns. Kostyuk, the No. 27 seed, had entered the Rome tournament as a strong contender, aiming to become only the fourth woman in history to win both Madrid and Rome titles in consecutive years. The achievement would have joined an elite group including Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, and Iga Swiatek. Her path to the Madrid title was marked by a dominant straight-sets victory over Anastasia Andreeva, capping a streak of 11 consecutive wins on clay this year. Kostyuk’s success on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz included titles in Rouen and Madrid, solidifying her status as a rising force in women’s tennis. In a social media post, Kostyuk expressed her disappointment at missing the Rome event, stating, “After the best stretch of my career, I was looking forward to Rome. But sometimes your body has other plans… With my ankle still not fully at 100%, it’s just not smart to keep pushing right now.” She emphasized her commitment to recovery, vowing to return for the Paris tournament. Raducanu, the No. 23 seed, had not competed since her third-round exit at the Indian Wells event. Her withdrawal from Rome followed a prolonged absence due to a post-viral illness, which also forced her to skip the Linz and Madrid tournaments. The British player’s absence leaves a gap in the Rome draw, with her spot to be filled by a qualifier.#emma_raducanu #wta_1000 #madrid_open #internazionali_bnl_ditalia #mart_a_kostyuk
Rome 411 Tennis Tournament: Key Dates, Players, and Prize Money Revealed The 83rd edition of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, one of the premier WTA 1000 tournaments, will take place in Rome from May 5 to May 17, 2026. The event, held at the historic Foro Italico, marks the final clay-court tournament before the French Open and features a 96-player singles draw and a doubles competition. The tournament schedule includes qualifying matches starting on May 4, with the singles main draw beginning on May 5 and the doubles tournament commencing on May 10. The singles final is set for May 16 at 5 p.m. local time, while the doubles final will be played on May 17 at 12 p.m. The tournament field includes 76 direct entries, 12 qualifiers, and eight wild cards, with every player ranked in the Top 20 of the PIF WTA Rankings participating. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka leads the singles field, joined by Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, Elina Svitolina, Jasmine Paolini, Victoria Mboko, and Mirra Andreeva. Notable additions to the draw include Belinda Bencic, Naomi Osaka, Iva Jovic, Madison Keys, Emma Raducanu, Qinwen Zheng, and Alexandra Eala. Emma Navarro will make her clay-court debut after a wrist injury forced her to miss the Madrid Open. The doubles competition will feature a mix of established stars and rising talents, with wild cards including Lucrezia Stefanini, Nuria Brancaccio, Lisa Pigato, Lucia Bronzetti, Jennifer Ruggeri, Tyra Caterina Grant, Martina Trevisan, and one additional player yet to be announced. The draw will be revealed on May 4 at 11 a.m., with withdrawals including Marketa Vondrousova, Sonay Kartal, Varvara Gracheva, and Veronika Kudermetova.#aryna_sabalenka #jasmine_paolini #internazionali_bnl_ditalia #foro_italico #sara_errani
