The 2025 Italian Open qualifying round is underway, and the players in the main draw have also started practicing ahead of their campaigns. Defending champion Iga ÅšwiÄ…tek, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina, among others, assembled in Rome ahead of the 1000-level event. Moreover, men’s World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who makes his much-awaited return in Rome, was also seen preparing for the clay-court event.
Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina Among WTA Stars in Readiness for 2025 Italian Open
ÅšwiÄ…tek may have fallen short of a title despite multiple deep runs this season, but she appeared optimistic ahead of her campaign at Internazionali BNL d’Italia. The Pole was recently seen practicing in a clip shared by the event’s official Instagram handle.
She was all smiles before starting her session, and later drilled forehands and backhands on the clay with intensity. The clip had a caption that read:
“Welcome back Iga! 🤩 Our 2024 WTA champion is here for her first training in Rome.”
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Meanwhile, Gauff was spotted at Italy’s iconic Trevi Fountain with home favorite Tyraa Grant for the Italian Open draw ceremony. Grant, a three-time junior Grand Slam doubles champion, recently switched national allegiances from the United States to Italy and will also participate in the WTA 1000 event on her home soil.
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Elena Rybakina, 2022 Wimbledon champion, and 2023 Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová also hit the court ahead of the event. Check out the post below:
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Notable WTA stars, such as Ons Jabeur and Maria Sakkari, were also seen preparing on the Italian clay ahead of the event.
Jannik Sinner returns to action at the Italian Open after a three-month suspension
Sinner is making his highly anticipated return to the Italian Open after spending a three-month doping suspension, which ended on Sunday, May 4. The Italian accepted a suspension in February, under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), after testing positive for the banned substance Clostebol last year.
The World No. 1 was recently seen arriving in the Italian capital ahead of his much-awaited return on court. Moreover, as Sinner stepped onto Campo Centrale for his pre-tournament practice, the home crowd greeted him with loud cheers and applause. He then started his session, the clip of which is shared below:
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The 23-year-old is seeded No. 1 in the tournament and will face the winner of the first-round match between Mariano Navone and Italian wildcard Federico Cina.
