Time for the giants: dinner in Rome with Coello e Tapia

Galan and Lebron, together again. Not a sudden (and unlikely) reunion, but rather the first course in Wednesday’s rich menu at the BNL Italy Major, with 28 matches and all the top male seeds debuting. The 2022 champions won’t be playing side-by-side, but they will be on court simultaneously to open the day. Kickoff at 9 a.m.: Galan, alongside Chingotto, begins their title defense on Centre Court against Valdes/Collado; Lebron, now with Stupaczuk, plays on Pietrangeli Court against Ayats/Garcia. Also at the same time: Italians Iacovino/Di Giovanni face Barahona/Garcia on Court 7. The morning schedule also includes Gonzalez/Sanz and Cardona/Augsburger’s openers.

After two matches per court across five courts in the morning, the Major will pause during the hottest hours of the day, resuming at 4 p.m. On Centre Court, Italy’s No.1 Carolina Orsi will play with partner Nuria Rodriguez against Spaniards Barrera/Caparros. Later in the afternoon, fellow Italian Giorgia Marchetti teams up with Barbara Las Heras against Martinez/Marrero (Court 6), while 2024 finalists Lucia Sainz and Patty Llaguno return on Pietrangeli.

Back on Centre Court, after Orsi it’s the turn of world No.4s Nieto/Yanguas, followed by Marta Ortega and Alejandra Alonso, and closing with the No.1 duo Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia, up against rising Portuguese brothers Miguel and Nuno Deus. Also not to be missed: Paquito Navarro, always a crowd favorite. The Andalusian, alongside Bergamini, will play on Pietrangeli—offering the fans a closer look, and giving Marco Cassetta (with José Luis Gonzalez) a great opportunity to test their progress.