ROME MASTERS 2026

[Miss_Vee]

I’m aware that this is a tennis forum….at times…😂

However today I’m making this post about Venus Williams and Naomi Osaka, who are both appearing at the Met Gala.  Venus as co- chair, along with Nicole Kidman and ??  Whatever!!

Anyway the theme this year is Fashion as Art.  Guess Naomi received an invitation, and did she show up!!  My goodness.  Naomi slayed the competition.  Her team created a masterpiece, which totally embodies the theme.  If anyone is interested, maybe take a look at the Met website, or look at Vogue’s website.  Venus’ has a mock-up of the Wimbledon trophy around her neck as the centrepiece of her dress.

I’m guessing this is the reason that she is not yet in Rome.  I had read something earlier about Naomi showing up late in Rome.  I’m thinking her interest in fashion runs deep with Naomi.  Hmm…

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Naomi is really an attention whore. Miss I am so shy, baby voice is always looking for attention. And she is torn apart between spending time with her daughter and all these travels. Please, 🙄

[Miss_Vee]

Sek, let her be…please!  Naomi is thinking about her next chapter IMO.  No tennis player who is seriously invested in winning another GS title, or even another big title, would have left Europe amid preparation for Roma, unless it was more vitally important to them. Maybe she’s playing better, because she has shifted focus somewhat.  

That’s my take on this Met Gala appearance.  She literally….hands down, should win for the most ON POINT representation of this evening theme.   

[fedexpress06]

I’m just disgusted by the met gala in general.  With bezos’ involvement and billionaires.  Also, will always love them, but Venus and Serena seem to stand up for nothing anymore.  There are literal genocides in Palestine, Sudan, etc yet here we are at extravagant galas with assholes like bezos and Venus being so involved with this.  Disgusting.  While everyday Americans struggling to pay rent while these billionaires get tax breaks and our taxes go to Israel to kill babies and women. 

[sugarplum876]

Me too fedix, and Missvee there is Naomi’s problem. Tennis is not her mani focus, tired of saying this but she is Williams wanna be.

[Miss_Vee]

I now agree with you sugar.  Naomi doesn’t really know whom she is as a person.  She always told what to do by her Dad mainly.  She seems to still be struggling for an identity.  That’s my take on her from her history.

Anyway, I absolutely despise the Bezos crowd, and all the Tech billionaires. Serena and Venus now run with the ultra wealthy, and that seems to change people.  Just saying….

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Totally agree. It is sad seeing Venus and Serena with these crowds, most especially with what is happening in this country and around the world.

People can barely afford to feed their homes, so many people losing their jobs and homes. 

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Alright back to Rome, Stan did not make it out of the qualies. 

[Miss_Vee]

Oh no!  I was so surprised that Stan wasn’t given a WC into the main draw here.  Anyway I hope that he doesn’t have to qualify for RG.

Many big name ATP and WTA withdrawals from Rome.  I see that Barbora Krejikova is in Sabalenka’s quarter of the draw.  She could be Sabalenka’s 2nd round opponent.

[Miss_Vee]

Yes!  Bianca Andreescu was awarded a WC in Rome, and she redeemed herself by beating Kenin, so she moves on to second round. Must see her next opponent later.

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Happy for Bianca. I hope she wins a few more here.

[Miss_Vee]

I’m aware that you all are not interested in this tournament until the weekend, but I think Fedex will be interested to hear that Tagger will face Sakkhari tomorrow.  

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Looks like Tagger is not yet good on clay, I saw she lost in the qualies, I think she got in the draw as a LL.

[Miss_Vee]

I haven’t seen any matches yet.  Just checking results now.

[Miss_Vee]

Tomorrow’s line up includes

Sabalenka vs Krejikova ( you know Barbora always comes out of nowhere to win big titles….lol)

Andreescu vs Bencic

Anisimova vs Ostapenko.

[Miss_Vee]

ATP tomorrow….notable matches

Tsitsipas vs Machac

Shapovalov vs Navone

Popyrin vs Berrettini 

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Those are interesting matches.

[sugarplum876]

I’m tennis out, so sad a sport I used to love so much is kind of dead.

[Miss_Vee]

I’m not trying to watch these early matches sugar.  I don’t receive TV coverage until tomorrow anyway.  Only trying to watch Sabalenka and Andreescu matches today on streaming channels.  The weekend will be more interesting.  I agree that tennis is not as interesting these days, but I still get joy at times from watching some matches.

[sugarplum876]

Missvee, I tried and honestly fall asleep , I remember when fedix used to say he only watched golf when he needed a nap😂 I’m feeling the same about tennis . I have been enjoying it more from a YouTube channel coz the messages are messy and I just laugh reading them.

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

lol, watching golf for a nap.

Looks like Anisimova is still injured. She withdrew last minute or she doesn't want to face crazy Ostapenko on her first match.

[Miss_Vee]

Goodness Sek, it seems as if the gains Anisimova made last year are about to disappear with this latest withdrawal.  I think she has points to defend at RG, and most certainly at Wimbledon.

[Miss_Vee]

I actually fell asleep during Gauff’s match earlier.  I needed the nap….😂

[Miss_Vee]

Tomorrow’s lineup 

McNally vs Swiatek 

Prizmic vs Djokovic 

Lys vs Osaka

Grant vs Mboko ( Grant is a black 18 year old Italian).

Musetti vs GMP

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Miss_Vee, is Grant any good?

[Miss_Vee]

Sekasi, I have no idea.  According to her bio on WTA website, she has won 2 or 3 ITF titles in 2024-25.  So we shall see when she plays today against Mboko.  I imagine that she might be better on clay than Vicky, but this will be their first encounter in the big leagues.

I didn’t realize that Jodar was playing today.  He won his second round match earlier, against Borges, another seasoned clay court player, in straight sets.

[Miss_Vee]

Caty McNally is giving Iga a run for her money in this 3rd set.  However Iga finally broke McNally’s serve at 5-3, and serves for the match.

[Miss_Vee]

Osaka is now on court facing Eva Lys, and broke Lys early in the first set.  Let’s see how this match goes for Naomi.  She is playing with so much confidence now.

[Miss_Vee]

Djokovic lost to Prizmic today.  Apparently he was bothered by G.I issues.  Mboko withdrew before her match today with gastrointestinal issues also.

Swiatek moves through after a very stern test from McNally.

Osaka also won in 3

Rybakina had an easy straight sets win over Rybakina.

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

I am glad it is not an injury for both players.

[Miss_Vee]

Omg!  Aryna Sabalenka has just been beaten in 3 tough sets by Cirstea, who didn’t fold the second time serving for the match.  What a year she’s having at the moment.  Mind you, she will show up day after tomorrow, and lose to the next opponent.  

Sabalenka had a MTO and had her back massaged.  Didn’t help her.  Anyway, she’s out of Rome.

[sugarplum876]

That’s a big win by cristea.

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Sabalenka has not had a good lead up to the French Open. She has to be very disappointed.

[Miss_Vee]

I’m sure that she is disappointed with her results so far.  Maybe she is carrying a couple of nagging injuries, that have played a part in these results….at least today.  She will go to Paris, a bit undercooked.  

Let’s see if Rybakina can take advantage of this loss, and put herself in a position to take over No1 on the WTA.  She is No 1 in the Live Race.

[Miss_Vee]

Shelton lost today courtesy of Basilashvili in 3 sets.  

What’s happening to my Canadian boys?  Shapo didn’t make it out of the first round, and Felix lost today to the player who took Shapo out….lol.

[Miss_Vee]

Just read the match report about FAA, and it seems in the second set, he was struggling to walk.🙄

Doesn’t sound good at all.  Will follow this story.

[Miss_Vee]

Looks like Fils retired from his match.  I didn’t see much of that match.  Thiem tennis so far is ho hum!  Barely watching anything.  Definitely missing Carlos, and the prospect of another Sinner/Alcaraz final.

[Miss_Vee]

Fils retired due to back problems.  It was reported that he struggled with his movement from first ball.  Oh Arthur….say it ain’t so.

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Oh no, Arthur boy, not again.

This event seems to be falling apart.

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Just saw a clip of FAA, he was cramping bad.

[fedexpress06]

Andreeva has had a very strong clay season so far - she's setting herself up well for RG.  

[Miss_Vee]

I know Fedex!  I’m seeing her play with so much confidence this season, minus a few meltdowns in March…lol.  We shall see how she does in Rome, but she has set herself well heading into RG.

Mensik lost to Popyrin tonight, who will play Sinner in 2 days.  

[Miss_Vee]

Goodness gracious, I managed to catch the last few minutes of Osaka/ Snaider match.  Naomi played that glorious tennis that we hadn’t seen since she was on top in 2019.  What magnificent ball striking, and defending from Naomi!  I have never seen her play so well on clay, since that RG match against Iga.  So impressive!

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Miss_Vee and Sugar, happy mother's day.

[sugarplum876]

Happy and blessed Mother’s Day sek and Missvee.

[Miss_Vee]

Im late to the party, but Happy Mother’s Day to sugar and Sek!!  Hope you had enjoyable day! 💐 🌸 🌹!!!

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Day was great, beautiful weather as well.

Looks like everyone is playing today.

[fedexpress06]

Iga crushed Naomi today.  Absolutely walloped her.  Same with Rybakina to Avatar. 

[sugarplum876]

Fedix what the F with the hantavirus, are they starting this shit again? I’m going to be pissed I can’t afford something crazy happening.i have to travel and be with my dad 😡

[fedexpress06]

Hantavirus though unlike covid, has been around for eons.  So it'll be easier to track and predict.  typically spread from rodents to humans but the Andes strain can be person-to-person - it doesn't spread airborne though the way covid does. I'm hopeful this won't spread like covid but never say never. 

[sugarplum876]

See fedix , you not sure. I’m reading like basically there are two people in almost every state that’s has being in contact or now confirmed with it 🤷🏻‍♀️ why they couldn’t keep those people in the darn ship.

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

The new Rafa is continuing to win matches. Will he be challenging the top boys next year?

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

So is Iga back or did she just get up to send Naomi back to the Gala?

Iga is like, gal don't confuse red carpet with red clay. See you at the FO.

[Miss_Vee]

I think Iga may be back.  Proof will be is she beats Rybakina and reaches and wins the tournament.

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

I was never a big fan of Iga, but I like her back competing well against Sabalenka and Rybakina.

WTA needs those 3.

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

I see Zverev is out with a bagel in the third. I wonder if he got injured.

[sugarplum876]

What is the coco h2h against adreeva?

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

I believe Coco owns Andreeva. 

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

It is 4-0 , this shows you howm much Coco is struggling this season.

[sugarplum876]

Yeah ,sek poor coco 

[Notorious S.T.A.R.]

I saw part of Coco's match yesterday.  And looked at the stats of yesterday's match.  For both matches her double faults were down, and she had way less UFE's than her opponent's, was close to hitting as many winners as UFEs.

So tell me, how did she play?

Are you still saying that her tennis is ugly?  The part of the match that I saw yesterday day she was playing quite well even thought she was down.  When I got to work, I saw that she was down a set and 3-5 in the second.  I did not follow after that (thinking that she would lose) and was surprised to see that she camelback and won 5-7 7-5 6-2.  And again, the stats that I follow indicated that she played quite well.

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Today she was up 5-1 in the third and things got tight. Luckily enough Mirra is a seld destructor when things get tight.

Star, there are players Coco used to routine, not any more. I am not watching her matches, I just keep an eye on the score line. The few clips I have seen on YouTube are not very encouraging. 

I will be watching at the FO.