Rome Open WTA Day Four Round-Up: Elena Rybakina dominates Sakkari, Iga Swiatek survives scare, Eala and Osaka advances
WTA
The second round of the WTA Rome Open continued on Friday with several leading contenders navigating contrasting paths into the third round. Iga Swiatek was pushed into a deciding set by Caty McNally, while Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula produced more controlled performances. Naomi Osaka and Madison Keys also progressed after three-set battles in a busy day across the Foro Italico.
The Rome Open draw is beginning to take shape ahead of the Round of 16, with several seeds strengthening their positions in the bottom half. Swiatek continues to search for consistency after an uneven clay swing, while Rybakina’s level again underlined her threat on slower surfaces. Alexandra Eala’s run also continued, adding another notable result to her breakthrough 2026 campaign.
Swiatek recovers after second-set lapse against McNally
Iga Swiatek def. Caty McNally 6-1, 6-7, 6-3
Iga Swiatek reached the third round of the Rome Open for the sixth consecutive season after overcoming a fluctuating contest against Caty McNally. After dropping serve immediately, the three-time Rome champion settled quickly and reeled off six consecutive games to take the opening set with heavy baseline pressure and improved return depth.
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The match shifted in the second set when Swiatek failed to serve it out at 5-4, allowing McNally back into the contest. The American extended rallies more effectively and forced Swiatek into less stable service games before edging the tiebreak. In the decider, however, Swiatek regained control by attacking McNally’s second serve earlier in rallies and breaking repeatedly from neutral exchanges.
Swiatek won four straight games to close the match and repeatedly exposed McNally’s serve during pressure moments. The Pole advances into the Rome Open third round still searching for sustained rhythm, but with another opportunity to build momentum before the Round of 16.
Potapova continues strong clay swing with Muchova upset
Anastasia Potapova def. Karolína Muchová 6-3, 6-2
Anastasia Potapova continued her strong clay-court form by defeating Karolína Muchová in straight sets at the Rome Open. The Russian established scoreboard pressure early by targeting Muchová’s second serve and consistently stepping inside the baseline during neutral exchanges.
Muchová struggled to disrupt Potapova’s rhythm throughout the match. After securing the opening set, Potapova immediately extended her advantage with another early break in the second, forcing the Czech into increasingly defensive court positions and preventing variation from developing consistently.
The result marked Muchová’s first loss in 2026 against a player ranked outside the top five. Potapova, who also made the semi-finals in Madrid, continues building momentum heading into the third round and is emerging as one of the more dangerous floaters in the Rome Open draw.
Eala maintains momentum with another composed win
Alexandra Eala def. Xinyu Wang 6-4, 6-3
Alexandra Eala continued her impressive run by defeating Xinyu Wang in straight sets to reach the Rome Open third round. Wang started sharply and moved 3-0 ahead in the opener after breaking twice, putting Eala immediately under scoreboard pressure.
The momentum shifted once Eala adjusted her return positioning and began extending rallies more patiently from the baseline. The Filipina won six of the final seven games of the opening set and carried that momentum into the second, where she repeatedly exposed Wang’s inconsistencies behind second serve.
After four early breaks in the second set, Eala separated herself with a decisive four-game run to close the match. Her progression sets up a third-round meeting with Elena Rybakina and further strengthens her breakout trajectory during this clay season.
Alexandra Eala against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova the Mutua Madrid Open Day 3
Pegula pulls away after competitive first set
Jessica Pegula def. Zeynep Sönmez 6-4, 6-0
Jessica Pegula advanced comfortably into the Rome Open third round after overcoming an initially competitive opening set against Zeynep Sönmez. The American secured an early break advantage but was repeatedly tested in longer service games as Sönmez stayed close through disciplined counterpunching.
The balance of the match changed completely at the start of the second set. Pegula began redirecting the ball earlier off both wings and consistently pressured Sönmez’s second serve, forcing shorter replies and creating immediate control in rallies. Three consecutive breaks quickly removed any resistance from the Turkish player.
Pegula did not face a single break point across the match and converted four of seven break opportunities overall. The World No. 5 moves into the third round with improving form and will next faceRebeka Masarova as the Rome Open approaches the Round of 16 stage.
Osaka steadies after fluctuating battle with Lys
Naomi Osaka def. Eva Lys 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Naomi Osaka returned to the Rome Open third round after navigating a physically uneven match against Eva Lys. Osaka established early scoreboard control by breaking twice in the opening set, using heavier ball striking from the centre of the court to shorten exchanges.
Lys altered the rhythm effectively in the second set by extending rallies and forcing Osaka into more movement on clay. The German recovered from 4-4 to force a decider and even opened the third set with an immediate break. Osaka responded quickly, however, re-establishing control through more assertive returning and stronger first-strike patterns.
The deciding set featured seven breaks of serve, but Osaka stabilised more effectively in the closing stages while Lys failed to hold serve in any of her four service games during the decider. The four-time Grand Slam champion advances with another opportunity to build consistency on clay ahead of the latter stages of the Rome Open.
Keys recovers from slow start to beat Stearns
Madison Keys def. Peyton Stearns 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
Madison Keys recovered from a difficult opening set to defeat Peyton Stearns and progress into the Rome Open third round. Stearns controlled large stretches early, particularly after the rain delay, finishing the first set strongly while dropping only two points across the final three games.
The match turned midway through the second set when Keys increased the pace through the middle of the court and shortened points more effectively behind serve. From 4-2 down, the Australian Open champion won four consecutive games to force a decider and shift momentum decisively.
Keys then secured an early break in the third set and finished by winning the final three games consecutively. Her ability to raise first-strike intensity in the latter stages proved decisive as she advanced deeper into the Rome Open draw ahead of the Round of 16. Next challenge: Nikola Bartůňková.
Rybakina overwhelms Sakkari after tight opening set
Elena Rybakina def. Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-1
Elena Rybakina produced one of the clearest statements of the day with a straight-sets win over Maria Sakkari at the Rome Open. The opening set remained competitive early, with Sakkari recovering one break immediately, but Rybakina consistently generated easier service holds and dictated shorter baseline patterns.
The tactical separation became far more evident in the second set. Rybakina began returning more aggressively through the middle of the court, limiting Sakkari’s ability to extend points physically. Once the Kazakh secured an early double break, the match moved heavily in one direction.
Rybakina converted two of three break points in the first set and maintained a clear edge behind serve throughout the contest, winning 66% of service points compared to 55% for Sakkari in the opener alone. The 2-time Grand Slam champion advances into the third round looking increasingly dangerous in the Rome Open draw.
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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