ROME, May 8, 2026, 13:05 (CEST)
Fourth seed Iga Swiatek found herself in a fight Friday as Caty McNally dragged their Italian Open clash into a deciding set, only for their second-round encounter to get halted after 1 hour and 55 minutes. With the scoreboard showing one set each and the match deep into the third, play was officially paused, according to the WTA’s live scoring page.
Why does this matter? Swiatek doesn’t treat Rome like just another tournament. The WTA 1000 in the Italian capital is the final marquee clay event before Roland Garros and ranks just under the Grand Slams in stature. According to the WTA’s draw preview, Swiatek—who’s already picked up three Rome titles—still hasn’t made a semifinal in 2026.
McNally secured her place with a straight-sets win, 6-2, 6-3, against Daria Kasatkina in the opening round. Kasatkina, a former top-10 player, had come to Rome fresh off a WTA 125 title in Spain. The WTA draw pointed out that McNally was coming off her first WTA 1000 fourth-round run in Madrid.
This matchup was meant to gauge Swiatek’s progress after her reset. Ilemona Onekutu, writing for Last Word on Tennis, noted ahead of the contest that McNally “can mix in slices and variety to throw off rhythm,” though ultimately picked Swiatek in straight sets. DraftKings Network’s Blake Krass sounded less convinced—he said Swiatek was “nowhere near the top of her game,” siding with McNally to snag a set. Last Word On Sports
Swiatek arrived in Rome looking to rebound from a tough Madrid showing, her run there cut short by illness. “No energy at all,” she told reporters of her Madrid week, according to Tennis.com. Now, though, Swiatek said she’s back to full training at Foro Italico and finding her groove again with coach Francisco Roig. Tennis
The stats told the story: Swiatek collected 68 points to McNally’s 57, yet McNally capitalized on each of her three break opportunities. Swiatek, by comparison, went five for 12 on break points. McNally, though, struggled with four double faults; Swiatek had two.
But that risk isn’t one-sided. A stoppage can just as easily halt the momentum for the underdog, and Swiatek had the edge on points before play was stopped. McNally’s challenge now: recapture the composure she had in set two. Swiatek, meanwhile, looks to channel the pressure into steadier service holds.
Whoever comes through advances into an especially tough part of the bracket. According to the WTA’s draw preview, Swiatek might see Emma Navarro in round three, Naomi Osaka in round four, and then possibly Jessica Pegula in a quarterfinal matchup.
Right now, it’s pretty straightforward. McNally notched a straight-sets victory against Kasatkina, then pushed Swiatek in her opening Rome match—leaving the fourth seed still looking for breathing room as play continues.
