Italy's home tennis showcase at the Foro Italico delivered a sobering mix of breakthrough victories and painful defeats, as the Internazionali BNL d'Italia unfolded with drama shaped by rain delays, emotional collapses, and one improbable underdog story that captivated the capital.
Why This Matters
• Matteo Berrettini crashed out in the first round and will now drop outside the Top 100 ATP rankings, marking a career low for the former world No. 6.
• Noemi Basiletti, ranked 427th globally, upset Ajla Tomljanovic to reach round two — a rare qualifier success that sets up a clash with world No. 10 Elina Svitolina.
• Defending champion Jasmine Paolini survived a nervy three-set opener and confessed to struggling with the weight of expectation on home clay.
Berrettini's Crisis Deepens in Rome
Matteo Berrettini's difficult 2026 season hit a new low point as the Italian tennis star was eliminated in straight sets by Australia's Alexei Popyrin, losing 6-2, 6-3 in a match that never found its rhythm. The Roman, who once reached a Wimbledon final and climbed to sixth in the world, looked emotionally overwhelmed on his home court, unable to convert the energy of the crowd into competitive momentum.
In a post-match press conference, Berrettini delivered a candid self-assessment that bordered on existential. "The feelings right now are sadness and disappointment, but that's how it should be," he told reporters. "It's right that for a couple of nights I'll go to bed with these thoughts — otherwise it would mean I don't care anymore, and that's not the case." He described the match as "just a bad day" where he couldn't manage emotions, the traps of a home tournament, or his opponent's game. "The level of my tennis suffered because of it," he admitted, noting the irony that he'd felt strong during warm-ups and practice sessions.
The loss confirms a season riddled with inconsistency for Berrettini, who entered Rome with a mediocre 10-9 record. An abdominal injury forced him to retire from the Australian Open earlier in the year, and although he showed signs of recovery by reaching the quarter-finals of a Challenger event in Cagliari, the upward trajectory has stalled. His ranking, currently hovering at 100th, will now slip further, marking the first time since his breakthrough that he'll fall outside the elite tier.
Berrettini resisted speculation about his next steps, saying it was "difficult to think about upcoming tournaments right now." He emphasized the need for "clarity" and time to process the disappointment before mapping out his schedule for the European clay swing and grass season. He had previously stated that his 2026 goals were less about results and more about "staying healthy and enjoying tennis," with a renewed focus on mental resilience and reclaiming the instinctive, fearless style of his younger years.
Basiletti's Cinderella Run Begins
While Berrettini's exit dominated Italian headlines, Noemi Basiletti quietly delivered one of the tournament's most compelling narratives. The 20-year-old qualifier, ranked a distant 427th in the WTA standings, completed a rain-interrupted victory over Ajla Tomljanovic, closing out the Australian in straight sets 7-5, 6-4 after resuming play with a 5-3 first-set advantage.
Basiletti's match had been suspended the previous evening due to weather, leaving her to sleep on a narrow lead. She returned composed and clinical, sealing the win in front of a supportive crowd that rallied behind the local underdog. Her reward? A daunting second-round encounter with Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, the world No. 10 and a former Grand Slam semi-finalist who reached the final four at the 2026 Australian Open.
For context, Basiletti had never won a main-draw match at a WTA 1000 event before this week. Her victory over Tomljanovic, a seasoned competitor with a career-high ranking of 32nd, represents not just a personal milestone but a rare bright spot for Italy's next generation of female players.
Paolini Advances to Third Round
Defending champion Jasmine Paolini avoided an early upset but admitted she struggled to handle the pressure of returning as title-holder. The Italian fought through a tense three-set battle against France's Leolia Jeanjean, eventually prevailing 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4 in a match that lasted nearly three hours, securing her place in the third round.
"There was a bit of emotion at the end because I started well, then I had some doubts and was nervous on court," Paolini said afterward. "Everything becomes more tiring when that happens." She acknowledged the challenge of defending her historic 2025 title — Italy's first women's singles championship in Rome in 40 years — and the psychological toll of heightened expectations. "Returning to the center court is always beautiful," she added, "but the next match against [Elise] Mertens will be very tight. I'll definitely need to make fewer mistakes than today."
When asked whether she preferred competing under today's pressure or as a lower-ranked outsider, Paolini was unequivocal. "I'm very happy to be in this position, even if some things haven't gone as they should have this year. I'm working to improve, but I would never trade places with the Jasmine of before." Her candor reflected the mental balancing act required of top-tier athletes, especially on home soil where every point is magnified.
Paolini's odds to repeat as champion stand at +10000 (100/1), with bookmakers favoring Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek, and Elena Rybakina. Still, her gritty performance and intimate knowledge of the Foro Italico's red clay make her a dangerous floater in a competitive draw.
Mixed Results for Italy's Supporting Cast
Elsewhere in the draw, Mattia Bellucci notched a clean first-round win, defeating Argentina's Roman Andres Burruchaga in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. He advances to face Tomás Etcheverry in the second round. Federico Cinà, however, couldn't sustain an early advantage. After winning the first set, the young Italian was dismantled by Belgium's Alexander Blockx, who stormed back to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 in under two hours. Blockx, a Madrid semi-finalist, will next face Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor.
On the women's side, Elisabetta Cocciaretto advanced by defeating Sinja Kraus and now awaits a tough second-round meeting with Emma Navarro, while Tyra Grant won an all-Italian clash against Lisa Pigato. Less fortunate were Lucrezia Stefanini, Federica Urgesi, and Nuria Brancaccio, all of whom exited in the opening round.
What This Means for Italian Tennis
The contrasting fortunes at the Foro Italico underscore a pivotal moment for Italian tennis. While Jannik Sinner — the world No. 1 — awaits his second-round entry after a bye, the broader Italian contingent is caught between generational transition and injury-plagued veterans. Berrettini's slide out of the Top 100 signals the end of an era, while Basiletti's breakthrough hints at untapped depth in the women's game.
For fans and stakeholders, the tournament is both celebration and stress test. Paolini's title defense and Sinner's looming presence keep the nation competitive on the global stage, but the inconsistency among mid-tier players raises questions about pipeline development and mental conditioning under home-crowd pressure.
The Internazionali continue through May 17, with critical second-round matches scheduled over the coming days. Lorenzo Musetti, Luciano Darderi, and Matteo Arnaldi are all set to compete, each carrying the hopes — and scrutiny — that come with representing Italy on one of tennis's most storied stages.
