Tennis news: Emma Raducanu's opponent pulls out as Novak Djokovic accepts offer

You can follow all the latest news from the Italian Open by heading over to today's live tennis blog.

Coco Gauff loves it in Rome.

After surviving a scare against teenage qualifier Victoria Mboko in her opening match, the American paid homage to the delicacies on offer in the Italian capital.

“I love playing in Rome. It’s a great city. Tour guide? I just try to eat all the good food spots," Gauff said.

"I went to this pizza place by the Trevi Fountain. It was great. I just love to eat here, so it’s more of a food tour than a monument tour”

Reigning champion Alexander Zverev has reached the third round of the Rome Masters by beating Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-2 6-1.

The Russian player has now won seven consecutive matches in Rome and will face Faces Gaubas next.

Coco Gauff survived a scare in her opening match as she took on teenage qualifier Victoria Mboko.

The 18-year-old has been making waves this season, already winning 33 matches so far - mostly on the ITF circuit.

And she started strong against Gauff, breaking three times before taking the first set 6-3.

The world No. 3 stormed back to win 3-6 6-2 6-1 and had a touching message for Mboko at the net.

“Keep your head up, okay? You did great,” Gauff told her opponent.

Barcelona Open champion Holger Rune came through a three-set epic against Francisco Comesana to book his spot in the third round.

The world No. 10 was forced to retire from the recent Masters 1000 in Madrid but he was back at it in Rome, surviving a thriller on the new SuperTennis Arena.

At one point, Rune came through a 20-minute service game, and saved break points in the last game of the match to win 3-6 6-3 6-4.

After the three-hour marathon match, he said: "It was extremely tough. I found the conditions very, very difficult on this court. It's a new court."

Jack Draper got his Italian Open campaign off on the right note as he beat Italy's Luciano Darderi 6-1 6-4.

The Brit raced through the opening set but the home fans tried to get behind Darderi and the second set was a tight affair.

Draper saved seven break points to come out on top and later admitted he had to keep his energy up.

"I think in the first set I was moving up the court, I was being the aggressive one and then in the second set, I found my energy dipped a little bit and then he started finding my backhand a little bit more," he told Sky Sports.

"So it was harder for me to be on the front foot and look for the forehand and be aggressive."

Jannik Sinner will officially make his return to competition at 7pm local time on Saturday.

The world No. 1 faces Mariano Navone on the main Campo Centrale court at the Italian Open.

It will be Sinner's first match after serving a three-month suspension.

Emma Raducanu revealed that she was named and shamed at the Italian Open. The Brit's name was hung on the wall in one of the player areas at the Foro Italico after she forgot her credential multiple times and had to ask for a new badge.

On Thursday, the 22-year-old posed for a picture in front of the sign, which put her in first place in the 'SORRY I'VE LOST MY CREDENTIAL 2025 EDITION !!!' rankings.

After winning her second-round match on Friday, Raducanu had the perfect response to her mistake.

“Well, I won something this week already!” she told Sky Sports.

“So yeah, I was the first person to lose my accreditation and then I lost the second accreditation and I got exposed on the board at the entrance! That’s not ideal, but to be honest, that pretty much sums me up.”

Carlos Alcaraz got off to a winning start at the Italian Open on Friday and addressed Jannik Sinner's comeback.

The world No. 1 accepted a three-month suspension in a case-resolution agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency and his ban was lifted on May 4, allowing him to return in Rome this week.

Sinner has received mixed reactions from players since getting banned but Alcaraz has made it clear that he's happy to have his rival back on tour.

"For, me it’s great to have him back. Honestly I’m gonna say I need him on the tour," he told Tennis Channel.

"Because he pushes me to be a better player, to give my 100 per cent every day, just to be better. I think tennis needs him as well. To bring new fans. His tennis is huge. It’s insane. I love watching him play."

There was chaos in the second set of Cameron Norrie's match against Daniil Medvedev when the Brit stopped a point because he thought his opponent sent the ball out.

Electronic line calling is used on the clay now, meaning calls cannot be challenged or overruled. But Norrie could see the ball had clearly flown long.

The umpire learned that the automated system also ruled the ball was long but the audio wasn't working, meaning the 'out' call never came.

Norrie was awarded the point to get one of the breaks back while trailing in the second set but he was still no match for Medvedev and the 10th seed won 6-4 6-2.

Emma Raducanu booked her spot in the third round of the Italian Open despite being thrown off by a late change in opponent.

The Brit was meant to face Ekaterina Alexandrova but the 21st seed pulled out injured and was replaced by lucky loser Jil Teichmann.

It was Raducanu's first meeting with the Swiss star but she coped well with the sudden change, winning 6-2 6-2.

Carlos Alcaraz made a winning return in Rome after pulling out of the recent Madrid Open with two separate thigh injuries.

The world No. 3 beat Dusan Lajovic 6-3 6-3 and admitted the match went better than expected.

"Well, today was a great match, great start of the tournament," he said.

"Honestly, I expected, let's say, worse match from my side. But I'm just really, really happy.

"The most important thing was the injury. I was going in the match [not knowing] if I was going to feel it or not. Today was great. I made few sprint, I move great today without any pain, which is great."

So, Emma Rasucanu is due on court shortly after a last-minute change of opponent.

She'll now face Jil Teichmann, 27, from Switzerland. The left-hander is currently ranked No.96 in the world having been 21st three years ago.

Teichmann has two WTA Tour titles to her name, both in 2019. This will be the first time her and Raducanu have ever faced each other....

A strong showing from world No.3 Carlos Alcaraz in his first match back from injury.

He beats Dusan Lajovic 6-3 6-3. Here's the moment he sealed victory....

Emma Raducanu now has to deal with an unexpected situation ahead of her second match in the Italian Open.

Second-round opponent Ekaterina Alexandrova has withdrawn. Since Alexandrova was a seeded player with a first-round bye, the Russian has been replaced by a lucky loser Jil Teichmann.

FULL STORY HERE.

Novak Djokovic will play on clay before the French Open after accepting a main draw wildcard entry into the Geneva Open.

According to Swiss newspaper Le Temps, Djokovic is now confirmed for the ATP 250 tournament, which will take place between May 18 and 24.

FULL STORY HERE.

The Italian Open has paid tribute to Fabio Fognini after he confirmed the 2025 Rome Masters will be his last. The 37-year-old lost to British star Jacob Fearnley in the first round.

The Italian Open’s X account posted a photo of Fognini waving to fans after his defeat, and added a touching message...

FULL STORY HERE.

Carlos Alcaraz has hit back after his documentary, Carlos Alcaraz: My Way divided opinion.

"I hear good things, bad things about that. So I just want to keep in my path, keep it my own way," he said.

"One thing I've learned is about not thinking about anything the people say to me, or not the real people, my close people, my team, my family, or my close friends. Yeah, I hear good things, bad things. So I just want to keep in my path, keep it my own way,"

Coco Gauff has talked up her chances of becoming the first American to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015.

Speaking ahead of her match with Victoria Mboko in Rome, she said: "There’s something about clay that I have always felt comfortable on. I feel like this year, more than ever, I am moving the best that I have, especially so early in the clay season.

"I usually really don’t find my movement until Roland Garros, but I feel like I found it in Madrid. It’s a really physical surface and it exposes you, I think it rewards me because I am a physical player and I do like to move and be aggressive, but also sit there and grind if I have to.”

Emma Raducanu's coaching arrangement with Mark Petchey has been dismissed by fellow Brit Dan Evans.

"It can’t last if she starts losing matches and Petchey is in the commentary box, that’s not going to work," said Evans. "I think Emma will be looking for a new coach again pretty soon if she starts to lose some matches on the grass into the US swing. I’m not sure how that can last as it is."

World No.3 Carlos Alcaraz has talked up his chances at the Italian Open despite the return of Jannik Sinner. He plays Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic today.

"I'm really happy to be here in Rome," he said. "It's the second time that I'm going to play here, so I'm excited. The practices were great so far. I'm in good shape. I'm 100 percent ready to start the tournament. I have confidence.

"The practices have been well. Obviously, I would say the first round in every tournament is never easy; you have to get used to the conditions, the tournament, the court, everything."

Welcome back to our live tennis blog on what is set to be a big day at the Italian Open.

There is plenty of British interest too, with Emma Raducanu, Jack Draper, and Cam Norrie all playing today.