On a balmy Friday evening at the Foro Italico, Elena Rybakina, the No. 11 seed and former champion, reignited her love affair with Rome’s clay courts, securing a 7-6(3), 6-2 victory over German qualifier Eva Lys in the second round of the 2025 Internazionali BNL d’Italia. The 25-year-old Kazakh, who famously lifted the trophy in 2023, extended her impressive Rome win streak to seven matches, advancing to the third round with a performance that blended resilience and precision. As the WTA 1000 event unfolds, Rybakina’s latest triumph signals her intent to reclaim the title she was unable to defend last year due to illness.
The match against Lys, ranked No. 63, was a test of Rybakina’s adaptability. The first set was a gritty affair, with both players trading blows in a tightly contested battle. Rybakina, known for her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game, struggled to find her rhythm early, committing unforced errors that kept Lys in contention. The German, making her mark in her breakout 2025 season, pushed the set to a tiebreak. However, Rybakina’s experience shone through, as she raised her level to claim the breaker 7-3. “I didn’t start that well,” Rybakina admitted in 2023 about a similar slow start in Rome, a sentiment that echoed her approach against Lys. The second set saw her shift gears decisively, breaking Lys twice and cruising to a 6-2 finish in just over an hour and a half.
Rybakina’s victory marks her fourth appearance in the Rome third round, a testament to her affinity for the tournament’s heavy clay. “Rome is so special to me,” she said last year, reflecting on her 2023 title run, which included wins over Iga Świątek and Anhelina Kalinina. Her 2023 campaign saw her rise to a career-high No. 5 ranking, and despite a dip to No. 12 this season, her performance against Lys suggests a return to form. The Kazakh’s serve, which delivered several aces, and her ability to capitalize on Lys’s weaker second serve were pivotal, aligning with her post-match reflections from 2023: “Physically, I can maintain and stay so long in the tournament till the end.”
Lys, a 23-year-old who has surged into the top 100 this year, was no pushover. Fresh off a 6-1, 6-0 rout of Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in the first round, she challenged Rybakina with fearless shot-making. Yet, the Kazakh’s superior firepower and tactical adjustments proved too much. Rybakina’s next opponent will be either Canada’s Bianca Andreescu or Croatia’s Donna Vekic, the No. 20 seed, setting the stage for a compelling third-round clash. “I’m just happy to be in the final,” Rybakina said after her 2023 semi-final, a mindset she likely carries into this year’s deeper rounds.
The Rome draw is heating up, with other second-round results reflecting the tournament’s competitive edge. Coco Gauff battled past Victoria Mboko, while Leylah Fernandez and Emma Navarro posted straight-set wins. However, Rybakina’s pedigree—highlighted by her 2022 Wimbledon title and 2023 Australian Open final appearance—makes her a standout contender. Her clay-court credentials, including a 2023 Italian Open title and a French Open quarter-final in 2021, add weight to her campaign. Despite a quieter 2025, with titles in Brisbane and Stuttgart but a Madrid semi-final loss to Aryna Sabalenka, Rybakina’s Rome resurgence is timely as the French Open looms.
Off the court, Rybakina’s connection to Rome remains strong. “A big thanks to the crowd and everyone who stayed and watched till the end,” she said in 2023, praising the passionate Italian fans. Her return to the Eternal City, after missing last year’s event, has reinvigorated her season. With the women’s final set for May 18, Rybakina’s blend of power and poise positions her as a threat to top seeds like Świątek and Sabalenka. As she prepares for her next challenge, the Kazakh star is proving that Rome, once again, is her stage to shine.
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