The rebirth of a legend on its favorite grounds

Karolína Plíšková returns to Rome with a sense of familiarity that few players can claim on this court. Title in 2019, final in 2020, final in 2021: three consecutive appearances in the final on the same surface, in the same stadium. The 34‑year‑old Czech survived double ankle surgery at the end of 2024, missed almost the entire 2025 season, and came back in September with two WTA 125 events in her legs to get herself going again. What she’s doing on clay in 2026 borders on a rebirth: 6‑1 on clay, a quarterfinal in Madrid after routing Sakkari and Mertens before losing to Potapova while saving three match points in the second set. Her 2026 clay numbers speak for themselves: Match Efficiency at 2.516, 74.4% of service games won, 69.3% of points won behind her first serve, and a 100% record in tiebreaks that says everything about her ability to hang on in crucial moments. She lands 65.3% of first serves in, which mechanically reduces her opponents’ break opportunities.

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro embodies the cruellest paradox on tour in 2026. The 23‑year‑old Galician, coached by Cesar Fabregas, is one of the best clay‑court returners of her generation, with 45.1% of return games won and 60.1% on opponents’ second serves. But her 2026 season is a shipwreck at 4–9, and the comparative clay stats explain it brutally: Match Efficiency at 0.606 versus 2.516 for her rival, only 56.9% of service games won, 0% of tiebreaks won. She creates chances, she applies pressure, she dominates the rallies, but her serve gives way too often and she doesn’t convert when it matters. Under pressure on serve, Plíšková wins 62% of points at 40–40 compared to 56% for the Spaniard. That’s where matches are won and lost on this slow clay where tight games pile up.