Rome Previews: Can Alexander Blockx build on Madrid breakthrough?

Each day, we'll preview three must-stream matches from the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

Published May 06, 2026

Alexander Blockx vs. Federico Cina

Blockx, a 21 from Belgium, has only been widely known for about two months, but he already looks like he’s here to stay. In fact, by the time he reached the semifinals in Madrid last week, it felt like he had been around for years. Maybe that’s because he fits the profile of a modern, top-level ATP player so perfectly. In other words, he’s a 6’4 European with a strong serve, topspin forehand, and two-handed backhand.

👉 Stream live on the Tennis Channel app (not before 2:30 p.m. ET)

His good spring results have him up to No. 36 in the rankings; that’s not high enough to be seeded in Rome, but he should make the cut at the Slams. On Wednesday, though, he’ll be asked to do something he hasn’t had to do all that much yet: Play someone younger. Cina is a 19-year-old from Palermo who was ranked as high as No. 4 in the juniors, and should have the Italian crowd behind him.

As a pro, though, Cina hasn’t been ranked higher than No. 183. He may make his own Blockx-like breakthrough at some point, but I’m guessing it won’t be on Wednesday. Winner: Blockx

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When in Rome...

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— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 4, 2026

Karolina Pliskova vs. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro

Is a Karolina comeback upon us? Pliskova’s return to the later rounds of a WTA 1000—or just about any event, for that matter—would not have been on my proverbial bingo card at the start of the year. She’s 34, she ended 2025 ranked outside the Top 1000, and she hadn’t made it past the second round at a Slam since 2023.

But there she was in Madrid last week, not looking much different than she did when she was No. 1 in the world nearly a decade ago. She made the quarters at the Caja Magica, and was one set from the semis.

👉 Stream live on the Tennis Channel app (not before 9:40 a.m. ET)

Pliskova, she of the pure timing and the easy power, would be a welcome re-addition to the WTA’s upper echelon. At No. 130 in the rankings, she has a ways to go, but she she has made strides. Rome should be a good place for her to try to take the next one; Pliskova won the title in 2019, and made the final in 2020 and 2021. She’ll start against Bouzas Maneiro, a fiery 23-year-old from Spain currently ranked 50th. They’ve never played. Winner: Pliskova

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Karolina Pliskova's WILD player party | CONFESSIONAL CART 2022

Marton Fucsovics vs. Dino Prizmic

Fans of men’s tennis have had to learn a bunch of new names this spring: Jodar, Blockx, and Landaluce among them. Should we add Dino Prizmic to that list? It’s certainly a memorable moniker.

Prizmic is a 20-year-old from Croatia. He’s 6’2, plays with grit and physicality, and had a couple of eye-opening wins—over Matteo Berrettini and Ben Shelton—last week in Madrid. That put him at a career-high No. 79.

👉 Stream live on the Tennis Channel app (not before 9:40 a.m. ET)

He’ll get another chance to prove himself on Wednesday against Fucsovics, a highly fit 34-year-old ranked 57th. They’ve never played, but it’s easy to imagine a match between them turning into a lengthy war of attrition. The winner will face Novak Djokovic. Winner: Prizmic

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