Rafael Nadal draws qualifier in Rome, Elina Svitolina, Holger Rune headline ceremony

ROME, Italy—The Trevi Fountain served as an iconic setting for the 2024 Internazionali BNL d’Italia draw ceremony, headlined by players Elina Svitolina and Holger Rune, who each fulfilled the time-honored tradition of tossing in a coin for good luck.

Ten-time champion Rafael Nadal will make his 19th and likely final appearance at the Foro Italico this year, and will open against a qualifier with No. 7 seed Hubert Hurkacz looming as his second-round opponent. Nadal is coming off of a solid result at the Mutua Madrid Open, making the fourth round with a win over No. 10 seed Alex de Minaur en route.

Rune is the No. 10 seed this week in Rome following pre-tournament withdrawals from Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, and though he is in the same section as Nadal and Hurkacz, the 2023 finalist won’t look past his opening match against either Daniel Altmaier or Luca Nardi.

“I really try to take it match by match,” he said after spotting his name in the draw. “I think everyone is a very good player, so I don’t think you can allow yourself to look too much forward. I just look at the first opponent, watch a little bit of their match and get prepared.”

Rune shocked world No. 1 Novak Djokovic to reach the championship match last spring, backing up the quarterfinal stunner with a three-set victory over Casper Ruud before ultimately finishing runner-up to Daniil Medvedev. Medvedev, the No. 2 seed, will open against either Jack Draper or Borna Coric, but arrives in Rome under his own injury cloud after retiring from his Madrid quarterfinal against Jiri Lehecka.

Djokovic hasn't been on court since the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, where he reached the semifinals, and is yet to win a title in 2024. The top seed will play either Roman Safiullin or a qualifier to kick off his campaign for a seventh title in Rome, having last lifted the trophy in 2022.

“I think the quarterfinal and the semifinal I played here last year, I want to say they’re some of the better matches I’ve played,” Rune reflected of his 2023 run. “The atmosphere is always great, so I really enjoyed it and hopefully I can play at the same level this year.”

Svitolina, seeded 16th in the women’s draw, was similarly effusive of the Rome fans, who lined the Trevi Fountain on Monday to watch the unveiling of the draw.

“This is an amazing city with a lot of energy from the fans. Hopefully I’ll see everyone here at the Foro,” the two-time champion said. “I’m looking forward to playing again, to starting the tournament and feeling the energy of the people.”

The 29-year-old is in the midst of an impressive return to action from maternity leave, rejoining the Top 20 back in January after reaching the quarterfinals of 2023 Roland Garros, the semifinals of Wimbledon, and the fourth round of this year’s Australian Open.

“I want to be an example for the kids, to motivate them to play tennis or discover their sport, all the fun times they can have on and off the court with their friends. I think it’s super important for kids to be engaged in sports.”

Still, Svitolina joked that it’s too soon to see baby Skaï, who she is raising with husband and fellow player Gaël Monfils, on the court.

“She’s only one year and half now, but she already runs around the house with a tennis racquet, so I’m sure she’s going to discover tennis in the end. But we’re going to try and introduce different sports to her, but tennis will be one of them.”

Svitolina is the same section of the draw as No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka, and will play her first match against either Sara Errani or American Amanda Anisimova. Sabalenka is coming off an epic final in Madrid, where she narrowly lost to Iga Swiatek in a third-set tiebreaker. Sabalenka will open against either Wang Yafan or a qualifier, while Swiatek, the top seed, will face either American Caroline Dolehide or a qualifier.

Click here to view the full men's and women's singles draws.