According to multiple reports, Raducanu's start to 2026 was complicated by a right hand injury, which forced her to pull out of the Madrid Open. She will begin her Rome campaign in the second round after a first-round bye, facing either Solana Sierra or a qualifier. Gauff, the reigning French Open champion, will open against Yulia Putintseva or Tereza Valentova. Raducanu's likeliest quarter-final opponent would be Mirra Andreeva, who has won the Linz Open and finished runner-up in Madrid this clay season. Aryna Sabalenka is drawn in Raducanu's half and will play either Barbora Krejcikova or Elsa Jacquemot. Defending champion Jasmine Paolini is drawn in the same quarter as Gauff, Raducanu, and Andreeva. All of the WTA top 20 are taking part in the Rome Open.
Iga Swiatek has yet to reach her usual heights this season, according to multiple reports. She faces a tough draw in Rome, with Emma Navarro potentially in the third round and Naomi Osaka in the fourth. Among other British players, Katie Boulter will open against Eva Lys, and if she wins, she will play Naomi Osaka in the second round. Cameron Norrie has a bye to the second round. Jack Draper is out for the remainder of the clay season due to injuries.
On the men's side, Jannik Sinner is on a record run of five consecutive Masters 1000 titles and is aiming to replicate Novak Djokovic's achievement of the career Golden Masters. Rome is the only Masters 1000 title Sinner has yet to claim. He is seeded to meet Jakub Mensik in the third round; Mensik is one of the few players to beat Sinner this year, in the Qatar Open quarter-finals. Sinner is also seeded to meet Arthur Fils in the fourth round, whom he defeated in the Madrid semi-finals. Novak Djokovic has been out of action since Indian Wells due to injury and will open against Marton Fucsovics or a qualifier.