The 2025 Internazionali BNL d’Italia delivered a captivating day of tennis at the Foro Italico, where German stars Alexander Zverev and Eva Lys showcased their talents with contrasting fortunes. Zverev, the defending champion and world No. 2, electrified the Campo Centrale crowd with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 rout of Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli, while 23-year-old Eva Lys fought valiantly but fell 7-6(3), 6-2 to former champion Elena Rybakina in a gripping second-round battle. The day was marked by passionate fan energy, including a spontaneous Mexican wave, and the presence of football legend Mats Hummels in the stands, adding a touch of star power to Rome’s clay-court spectacle.
Zverev’s performance was a masterclass in efficiency, as the 2021 Olympic gold medalist dispatched Carabelli in just 66 minutes. Converting his first match point, Zverev showcased his lethal serve and pinpoint groundstrokes, dropping only three games. The atmosphere was electric, with fans erupting in cheers and launching a Mexican wave that rippled through the stands. Zverev, ever the showman, acknowledged the crowd’s fervor with a round of applause before refocusing on his title defense. “The energy here is unmatched,” Zverev said last year about Rome’s fans, a sentiment that clearly resonated as he soaked in the adulation. His victory propels him directly to the third round, where he faces Lithuanian qualifier Vilius Gaubas, ranked No. 154, who stunned Denis Shapovalov earlier in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Eva Lys, a rising star from Hamburg, captured hearts with her fearless performance against Rybakina, the No. 11 seed and 2023 Rome champion. The 23-year-old German, ranked No. 63, burst out of the gates, securing an early break in the first set with her aggressive backhand and relentless energy. Facing a former Wimbledon champion, Lys held her own in a tense opening set, pushing it to a tiebreak. However, Rybakina’s experience and heavy baseline hitting turned the tide, as she claimed the breaker 7-3. “I didn’t start that well,” Rybakina reflected in 2023 about a similar match, a nod to her ability to find her rhythm under pressure. In the second set, Rybakina broke Lys twice, sealing a 6-2 victory after one hour and 40 minutes of intense play.
Lys’s performance, though ending in defeat, was a testament to her burgeoning potential. Having crushed Moyuka Uchijima 6-1, 6-0 in the first round, she demonstrated she can compete with the WTA’s elite. “She’s showing she belongs at this level,” a coach noted post-match, praising Lys’s tenacity. Her career-high ranking and top-100 breakthrough in 2025 highlight her rapid rise, and Rome’s passionate crowd, including Hummels, roared in appreciation of her effort. Rybakina, meanwhile, advances to face either Bianca Andreescu or Donna Vekic, her sights set on a second Rome title. “Rome is so special to me,” she said in 2023, a sentiment echoed in her determined play.
The day’s action was steeped in Rome’s unique charm, with fans creating an unforgettable atmosphere. Zverev’s dominance and Lys’s spirited challenge captivated onlookers, while social media buzzed with reactions. “Zverev is untouchable right now!” one fan posted, while another lauded Lys:
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