The Italian Open arrives in Rome as the ATP and WTA tours shift to clay at the iconic Foro Italico. Playing on red clay, the 83rd edition gathers top names — including Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff — with the event scheduled to run through May 17. For viewers outside the local TV market, streaming options are the quickest route to catch matches live and on demand. This article explains how to watch, what to expect from the draw and the latest health and lineup news affecting contenders.
How to stream the Italian Open live
If you want to follow every ball from the Foro Italico, the tournament is available on the Tennis Channel, which is included with certain streaming bundles. Most fans will find the match coverage on web-enabled devices — smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, laptops and web browsers — with simultaneous access on multiple devices. Sling TV offers a flexible month-to-month plan, and the platform provides features such as cloud DVR storage and multiple concurrent streams so viewers can record or watch separate matches as the schedule unfolds.
Sling packages and what they include
The typical entry point for sports viewers is Sling Orange, priced at $45.99/month on a month-to-month basis. To access the Tennis Channel you will need the Sling Sports Extra add-on, which costs an additional $11/month, bringing the full package to $56.99/month. Combined, these provide access to networks like ESPN, ESPN2, ACC Network, ESPNU, NBA TV and others. Availability and pricing vary by market, so checking local channel lineups and terms before subscribing is recommended.
Event timing and the draw overview
The women’s draw begins on May 5 and the men’s competition starts on May 6, with finals scheduled across the weekend of May 16 and 17. Tournament organizers have seeded matchups that shape projected paths: for men, top seeds such as Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic are placed so they could only meet in the final. A Sinner victory at the Foro Italico would bring him closer to a rare career milestone, while Djokovic is notable for having completed the full set of Masters 1000 titles multiple times. The clay swing is pivotal before Roland-Garros, so form and fitness in Rome often foreshadow Paris outcomes.
Player developments: Emma Raducanu and the British contingent
British No 1 Emma Raducanu was initially scheduled to enter the Rome draw with a second-round slot after being handed a bye into round two, and she faced a projected pathway that could have seen her meet Coco Gauff in round three. Raducanu had prepared on clay in Europe and worked with longtime contacts including coach Andrew Richardson at the Ferrer Tennis Academy and childhood coach Jane O’Donoghue. She has also trained with hitting partner Alexis Canter. However, Raducanu withdrew shortly after completing her pre-tournament media commitments because of an ongoing post-viral illness, a development that affects her participation in the clay swing and leaves questions about her schedule ahead of Roland-Garros.
What the withdrawal means and other British entries
The late pullout by Raducanu opens her section of the draw and could shift opportunities for other players. She had been considering warm-up events such as the Internationaux de Strasbourg (17-23 May) or the Rabat Grand Prix (18-23 May) to tune up for Roland-Garros; those remain potential options if recovery permits. Meanwhile, other British players are active: Katie Boulter has shown strong clay form, and on the men’s side Cameron Norrie has produced solid results in 2026 and holds a first-round bye in Rome. A number of Brits are also attempting to qualify for main-draw berths, so the national contingent still has multiple routes to impact the tournament.
For anyone planning to watch, remember that channel packages and prices can be subject to local variation, so verify the final lineup and costs in your area before subscribing. Using Sling Orange plus Sling Sports Extra remains a straightforward way to access the Tennis Channel and follow the Italian Open live, while keeping an eye on late player changes such as withdrawals that can alter the competitive picture at the Foro Italico.