The clay-court season continues in full swing with the Italian Open. Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Iga Świątek will all be vying to triumph in Rome and will be among the favorites to come out on top.
The draw for the next WTA 1000 tournament has been made, and the top seeds will look to rebound after early exits in Madrid. Here’s the lowdown on the routes the top four seeds will take to reach the final in Rome.
Aryna Sabalenka’s Path to Italian Open Title
Sabalenka has only made the final once in Rome, losing to Świątek in straight sets. The world No. 1 saw her dominance end in Madrid last week as she was beaten by Hailey Baptiste in the quarterfinals. So she will be eager to return to her dominant best at the Italian Open.
After a first-round bye, Sabalenka will face 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejčíková or Elsa Jacquemot in the second round. Krejčíková has endured a difficult season due to injuries but is more than capable of going toe-to-toe against the top players when at her best.
Another tricky test could await the Belarusian in the third round against the in-form Sorana Cîrstea. The veteran has been in excellent form this year, with one title and a 23-7 win-loss record.
Sabalenka’s possible fourth-round opponents include Linda Nosková and Clara Tauson. Nosková is coming off a strong run in Madrid, where she defeated Coco Gauff, while Tauson holds a 1-1 head-to-head record against the Belarusian.
If Sabalenka makes it to the quarterfinals, she could face Amanda Anisimova or Belinda Bencic. She holds a 5-6 head-to-head record against the American.
In the semifinals, she could face Gauff, reigning champion Jasmine Paolini, or Mirra Andreeva. The American is the reigning French Open champion, while the Russian has enjoyed a strong start to the clay-court season, winning the title in Linz and reaching the final in Madrid.
If Sabalenka reaches the title clash, she could face Rybakina or Świątek.
Elena Rybakina’s Path to the Title
Rybakina will begin her Italian Open campaign against Maria Sakkari or a qualifier in the second round. She could then face Wang Xinyu, Magdalena Fręch, or Alexandra Eala in the third round.
In the fourth round, the reigning Australian Open champion could go up against Marta Kostyuk. The Ukrainian arrives in Rome after back-to-back triumphs in Rouen and Madrid but has beaten Rybakina only once in six meetings.
If Rybakina makes the quarterfinals, she could face Elina Svitolina, Victoria Mboko, Madison Keys, or Hailey Baptiste. Her clay-court skills give her a good chance to overcome all four challengers.
In the semifinals, she could renew her rivalry against Świątek. Other players in that section of the draw include Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, and Karolína Muchová.
Coco Gauff’s Path to the Title
Seeded third in Rome, Gauff will begin her campaign in the second round against Yulia Putintseva or Tereza Valentová. She could then be set for a third-round contest against Emma Raducanu.
Gauff could face Marie Bouzková or Iva Jovic in the fourth round. The American has never faced her compatriot on the WTA Tour, with a 1-2 win-loss record against Bouzková.
A quarterfinal against Andreeva or Paolini could then await Gauff. Andreeva has enjoyed an excellent start to the clay-court season, while Paolini will be the home favorite and the defending champion. So both players could present tough assignments to the 22-year-old.
A possible rematch of last year’s French Open final against Sabalenka could then await in the semifinals. The world No. 1 defeated Gauff in the Miami Open final earlier this year and holds a 7-6 lead in their rivalry.
Iga Świątek’s Path to the Title
The season so far has not gone according to plan for Świątek. But she is a three-time champion in Rome and will be determined to do well at the WTA 1000 tournament. Placed in the bottom half of the draw, the Pole will face Caty McNally or Daria Kasatkina in the second round.
McNally had a strong run in Madrid, making the fourth round. Kasatkina won a WTA 125 title on Sunday and heads to Rome with confidence.
Emma Navarro could be a possible third-round opponent for Świątek. The American hasn’t had the best of starts to the season but did defeat the Pole when they met in Beijing last year.
A meeting against Osaka or Diana Shnaider could await in the fourth round. Osaka is coming off a strong run in Madrid, where she came close to defeating Sabalenka.
In the quarterfinals, Świątek could face Pegula or Muchová. Pegula is enjoying another strong season on the WTA Tour and has beaten Świątek at their last two meetings.
Meanwhile, Muchová is on a 22-5 run in 2026 heading into the Italian Open and could cause a few problems.
Possible semifinal opponents for Świątek include Rybakina, Kostyuk, and Svitolina. All three players are very capable and will fancy their chances of defeating the world No. 3 if she makes it this far.
Here’s your women’s main draw — the journey starts now 🎾#IBI26 | @WTA pic.twitter.com/WsdIPY4WST
— Internazionali BNL d’Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 4, 2026
On paper, Sabalenka seems to have the toughest draw among the top four seeds. She must contend with several in-form players to win her first Rome title. Rybakina also faces a potential fourth-round meeting with Kostyuk, who is unbeaten on clay this year and has won two titles.
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Świątek’s road to the Italian Open final is packed with challenges, but if she brings her A-game, she should be able to topple Osaka, Pegula, and Muchová – setting the stage for a nail-biting finish.
Gauff’s clay-court season hasn’t started as well as she would have liked. But she’s poised for a breakout run in Rome. On paper, the stars could align for her to make a serious statement.
