Italian Tennis: Paolini, Berrettini & Darderi in Action – Feb 17 Schedule

Tuesday, February 17th, 2026, promises a full schedule of tennis action, with several Italian players competing in tournaments around the globe.

Italian Players Compete Across Multiple Tournaments

Jasmine Paolini Begins Dubai Campaign

Italy’s Jasmine Paolini returns to the court at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2026, facing Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. Paolini will attempt to rebound after a disappointing opening loss in Doha. The match is scheduled as the second of the evening session on the Centre Court, beginning at 4:00 PM Italian time.

Did You Know? Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori recently won the ATP Rotterdam title in doubles, defeating Ray Ho and Hendrik Jebens.

Berrettini, Passaro, and Darderi in Rio de Janeiro

The Rio Open 2026 presented by Claro will also feature Italian players. Matteo Berrettini and Francesco Passaro will both begin their campaigns today. Berrettini will play Tomas Barrios Vera, while Passaro will face Dino Prizmic, with matches beginning at 8:30 PM Italian time. Matteo Berrettini was originally scheduled to play Sonego, but the match changed due to Sonego’s wrist injury.

Luciano Darderi, the number two seed, will also compete in Rio, facing Juan Manuel Cerundolo. Darderi is coming off a finalist appearance in Buenos Aires and is within reach of the top 20 ranking. This will be their sixth meeting, with Darderi holding a 3-2 advantage in previous matches on clay.

Bellucci Seeks Redemption in Delray Beach

Mattia Bellucci will play Miomir Kecmanovic at the Delray Beach Open 2026, with the match scheduled to begin no earlier than midnight. Bellucci aims to improve his performance after a loss in his opening match at the Dallas Open against Brandon Nakashima.

Expert Insight: The participation of multiple Italian players across these tournaments highlights the growing strength of Italian tennis on the international stage, with players seeking to build on recent successes and improve their rankings.

Where to Watch

Matches from the ATP and WTA circuits will be available on Sky Sport or streamed via SkyGo and Now. The WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai will also be broadcast on SuperTennis.

ITALIAN PLAYERS IN ACTION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH:

WTA DUBAI

[6] J. Paolini – Alexandra Eala: second match from 4:00 PM on Centre Court

ATP DOHA

Simone Bolelli/Andrea Vavassori – Adam Pavlasek/John-Patrick Smith: second match from 11:30 AM on GrandStand 3

ATP RIO DE JANEIRO

Matteo Berrettini – Tomas Barrios Vera [LL]: first match from 8:30 PM on Campo Guga Kuerten

[LL] Francesco Passaro – Dino Prizmic [Q]: first match from 8:30 PM on Campo 2

[2] Luciano Darderi – Juan Manuel Cerundolo: second match from 8:30 PM on Campo 2

ATP DELRAY BEACH

Mattia Bellucci – Miomir Kecmanovic: no earlier than midnight on Centre Court

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Jasmine Paolini play?

Jasmine Paolini plays Alexandra Eala on Tuesday, February 17th, as the second match of the evening session on Centre Court, starting at 4:00 PM Italian time.

Which Italian players are competing in Rio de Janeiro?

Matteo Berrettini, Francesco Passaro, and Luciano Darderi are all competing in the Rio Open 2026.

Where can I watch these matches?

Matches will be available on Sky Sport or streamed via SkyGo and Now. The WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai will also be broadcast on SuperTennis.

As these Italian players begin their campaigns, what impact will these early tournament results have on their rankings and momentum for the rest of the season?