Monday in Rome: Who will survive the fourth-round gauntlet?
While there was some surprising carnage in the bottom half of the draw on Saturday -- three of the Top 5 seeds went down -- the top-half favorites are doing just fine, thank you.
On Sunday, the Top 8-seeded players -- No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka
Slightly below the radar, a pair of former US Open champions who have battled injury and illness -- Bianca Andreescu
No. 6 Jasmine Paolini
Here is a snapshot of all eight Round of 16 matches to be played Monday in Rome:
Top Half
No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka
Head-to-head: 3-0, Sabalenka. But the most recent match, a few weeks ago in the Madrid quarterfinals, was a fierce battle going to Sabalenka 7-6(4), 7-6(7).
She’s never won the title here in Rome, but Sabalenka’s path is clearer after some high-profile third-round upsets. Sabalenka came back to defeat No. 31 Sofia Kenin
No. 4 Coco Gauff
Head-to-head: 1-0, Gauff, in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open, 6-3, 7-6(4).
This meeting of former US Open champions might be the most anticipated match in Monday’s stellar lineup. Gauff was a 7-5, 6-3 winner over No. 32 Magda Linette
No. 7 Mirra Andreeva
Head-to-head: Andreeva, 2-0.
This will be the third meeting between these two this year -- and a rematch of the Dubai final. Andreeva won that one 7-6(1), 6-1 and followed it up with a round-of-32 win on the way to the title in Indian Wells.
Andreeva sent home No. 30 Linda Noskova
No. 8 Zheng Qinwen vs. Bianca Andreescu
Head-to-head: Zheng, 1-0, a 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 victory three years ago in Toronto.
Zheng had only played 16 matches coming into Rome, but her level has been on the rebound lately. With a win over Andreescu she’ll reach her third quarterfinal in the past four WTA 1000s. Zheng handled No. 26 Magdalena Frech
Bottom Half
No. 6 Jasmine Paolini
Head-to-head: 2-1, Ostapenko, including their most recent meeting, a 6-2, 6-2 win in the third round of this year’s Doha tournament.
This is welcome uncharted territory for Paolini, the Italian favorite. She’d never been this far in Rome before, but a convincing 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ons Jabeur
No. 13 Diana Shnaider
Head-to-head: 2-0, Mertens, most recently in the 2025 Stuttgart round of 16 -- on red clay -- by a 6-2, 7-6(5) count.
Mertens upset No. 3 Jessica Pegula
No. 16 Elina Svitolina
Head-to-head: 2-1, Collins -- but Svitolina won their most recent match back in March, 6-2, 6-4 in the Round of 32 at Indian Wells.
Svitolina has been terrific on clay so far this season, winning 13 of 14 matches. She was a titlist in Rouen, France and advanced to the semifinals in Madrid before falling to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka
Naomi Osaka
Head-to-head: 0-0.
One of Osaka’s best matches last year was a loss to eventual champion Iga Swiatek
