PARMA/STARNBERG, May 10, 2026
The wait is almost over for the sixth edition of the Parma Ladies Open presented by Iren, the WTA 125 tournament organized by MEF Tennis Events and Tennis Club Parma, which will take place from May 11 to 16 on the clay courts of the prestigious Emilia-Romagna venue.
As players completed another day of practice ahead of the start of the tournament, the atmosphere around Tennis Club Parma continued to build. The club also hosted the official opening party in collaboration with UniCredit Allianz Assicurazioni, main partner of the event. Members, guests and tennis fans gathered in large numbers to enjoy a buffet featuring local specialties, including the iconic Prosciutto di Parma.
Engines warming up 🎾⚡
The players are getting ready for the Parma Ladies Open presented by Iren.#tennis #ParmaLadiesOpen #WTA #Parma pic.twitter.com/J37PwXxkve— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) May 10, 2026
Among the players attracting attention this week is Italy’s Marta Lombardini, one of the breakout stories from the recent Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. The 23-year-old from Rimini arrives in Parma full of confidence after an impressive run through the pre-qualifying tournament at the Foro Italico, where she made her debut at a major professional event and pushed former World No. 32 Ajla Tomljanovic in the qualifying draw.
“The experience in Rome gave me a lot of confidence and belief in myself,” Lombardini said. “My goal is to keep improving my ranking and try to enter bigger tournaments.”
Currently ranked No. 899 in the WTA rankings, Lombardini recently completed a degree in Sports Science and has now decided to fully dedicate herself to professional tennis. Known for her aggressive style and elegant one-handed backhand, the young Italian believes she is only beginning her journey on the professional tour.
“I only started playing professional tournaments last year, but I immediately loved these environments,” she explained. “I’m happy to have already met many important people and shared wonderful experiences both on and off the court.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian star Dayana Yastremska spent the eve of the tournament discovering some of Parma’s most famous landmarks. The 25-year-old, who reached the semifinals of the 2024 Australian Open and received a wild card into the main draw, explored the historic city center throughout the afternoon.
Yastremska visited iconic locations including Parma Cathedral, the Teatro Regio and the Camera di San Paolo, expressing admiration for the city’s architecture, which reminded her of her hometown of Odessa.
