Tennis Weekly — May 18, 2026

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Tournament Recap

WTA Rome — Svitolina Triumphs, Rankings Reshuffled

Elina Svitolina claimed the WTA 1000 title at the Rome Open, surging to 7th in the world rankings after the victory. The win sent shockwaves through the standings ahead of Roland-Garros: Elena Rybakina is now closing the gap on World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, while Jasmine Paolini has fallen outside the top 10. Emma Raducanu also slipped down the rankings following the clay-court swing.

Coco Gauff had a turbulent week in Rome, with reports of a finals meltdown in an earlier round drawing attention. The world No. 3 was seen visibly emotional on-court, later offering apologies, though she remains a title favourite heading into Paris as the defending Roland-Garros champion.

ATP Geneva Open — Week in Progress

The ATP 250 event in Geneva is underway from May 17–23, with Novak Djokovic — the defending champion — not returning to defend his title this year. The Swiss clay event serves as the final tune-up before Roland-Garros for many players.

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Player Spotlight

Berrettini: "Not the End of the World" — Honest About the Long Road Back

Matteo Berrettini, once ranked World No. 6 and a Grand Slam finalist at Wimbledon, has opened up about life at World No. 100. The Italian, who has battled a string of serious injuries in recent seasons, says he is finally healthy and is focused on rebuilding his game. "Not the end of the world," he reportedly told reporters, reflecting on the ranking drop while emphasising his determination to regain consistency and climb back up the ladder. Berrettini's return to the tour has been gradual, but his recent comments suggest a player at peace with the process — and hungry for results.

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Coming Up

Roland-Garros 2026 — May 18 to June 7

The French Open begins today, May 18, with the draw scheduled for May 21 and main-draw action commencing May 24 in Paris. Coco Gauff enters as the defending champion, with Iga Świątek, Aryna Sabalenka, and newly-crowned Rome champion Elina Svitolina all in the mix on the women's side. On the men's side, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic are the headline contenders chasing clay-court glory.

The WTA draw for Roland-Garros is set for May 21, with the No. 1 ranking race between Sabalenka and Rybakina potentially tightening further depending on deep runs in Paris.