Overview
- Marta Kostyuk withdrew from Rome with a hip issue and an ankle not yet at 100 percent, saying on Instagram it was not smart to keep pushing.
- The Italian Open main draw runs May 5–16 with a 96‑player field and 32 seeds on byes, led by Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek.
- Kostyuk’s scratch removes a recent WTA 1000 champion from the field and costs her 215 points from last year’s fourth round under the 52‑week ranking system.
- The draw sets up early storylines, including a possible Coco Gauff vs Emma Raducanu third round and Alex Eala potentially meeting Elena Rybakina in round three.
- Ranking context tightens heading into Paris as Sabalenka extends her No. 1 streak past 80 straight weeks, Swiatek rises to No. 3, Gauff slips to No. 4, and Rome defenses vary widely with Jasmine Paolini at 1,000 points and Swiatek at 65.