Jasmine Paolini, the defending champion at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, is back on court for the third round at the Foro Italico, where she is scheduled to face Belgian Elise Mertens. The women’s draw reaches the 3° turno on Monday 11 May, with coverage available on Sky Sport and in streaming on NOW.
Paolini’s match is one of the day’s main attractions because the Italian is trying to extend a run that made her last year’s champion in Rome. Mertens arrives as the 21st seed, giving the meeting a clear ranking edge on paper, but the pressure in Rome falls heavily on Paolini every time she steps out at home. For readers following the broader clay-court build-up, there are also fresh preview notes on Jeanjean’s momentum in Rome, Hailey Baptiste’s win in Madrid, and the Paolini angle around Andreeva and Udvardy.
The day’s schedule does not stop with the women’s draw. Jannik Sinner, the n°1 del mondo, is set to open his campaign in the men’s 2° turno against Sebastian Ofner, while Flavio Cobolli meets Térence Atmane, Mattia Bellucci faces Etcheverry and Andrea Pellegrino takes on Arthur Fils. It is a busy Monday at the Foro Italico, with the tournament moving deeper into its decisive rounds and the home crowd watching whether Paolini can keep her title defense moving in the right direction.
And that is the point of the day in Rome: Paolini is no longer chasing a surprise, but protecting a crown.
