THE PARMA LADIES OPEN PRESENTED BY IREN IS BACK
MAYAR SHERIF RETURNS TO DEFEND HER TITLE
Parma, April 17, 2026 – One year after Egypt’s Mayar Sherif won the title, the Parma Ladies Open presented by Iren is ready to reignite. From May 11 to 16, 2026, the WTA 125 tournament, organized by MEF Tennis Events—once again presented by Title Sponsor Iren, with the support of the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Municipality of Parma—will return to the clay courts of the Parma Tennis Club for a sixth edition that promises to be a top-notch event. Scheduled during the second week of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, the Emilian event will bring together some of the best players on the WTA circuit. Leading the entry list, which includes twenty-one top-100 players in the world rankings, are China’s Xinyu Wang, fresh from the round of 16 at the Australian Open, and American Ann Li, whose trophy cabinet includes two major tournaments, including the 2021 Tenerife Ladies Open. Also notable are Philippine Alexandra Eala and American Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Grand Slam champion and former world number four. The press conference is scheduled for May 5th at 11:30 a.m. in the Sala di Rappresentanza of the Municipal Residence at Strada Repubblica, 1 Parma, in the presence of Mayor Michele Guerra, Councilor Marco Bosi, as well as representatives of the Emilia-Romagna Region, FITP Emilia-Romagna, CONI, Tennis Club Parma, and MEF Tennis Events.
The Top 50 group – Five of the Top 100 players registered in Parma are among the top 50 in the world. Leading the entry list for the 2026 edition is China’s Xinyu Wang, ranked number 32 in the WTA. The Asian player, who finished among the top sixteen at the last Australian Open, is poised to play a major role, flanked by many other promising young players, starting with American Ann Li. The 2000-born player from King of Prussia has been consistently at the top of the WTA rankings and five years ago achieved her first major tour success in Tenerife, at the tournament organized by MEF Tennis Events, defeating Colombia’s Camila Osorio, another star arriving in Emilia, in the final. The strong American field, composed of five players, will also include Grand Slam champion Sofia Kenin—winner of the 2020 Australian Open and a finalist a few months later at Roland Garros—and Taylor Townsend, considered one of the best doubles players of her generation, a five-time Grand Slam finalist, and a former number one in the doubles rankings. A player who calls Parma her second home will also be present: Mayar Sherif. The 29-year-old Egyptian won the last of her eight WTA 125 titles last year in Emilia-Romagna, defeating Victoria Mboko in the final, who had climbed into the Top 10 within a few months. It was also here that in 2022 she celebrated her first WTA 250 title, defeating then-Top 10 Maria Sakkari in the final.
The support of a new partner – UniCredit Allianz Assicurazioni joins the sixth edition of the Parma Ladies Open as Main Partner. This new partnership underscores UniCredit Allianz Assicurazioni’s commitment to supporting prestigious events and nurturing talent and sporting values. “We are proud to support the Parma Ladies Open as Main Partner. We believe that women’s sport deserves attention and concrete investment to thrive at the highest levels, and this tournament is a shining example: a landmark event that offers athletes—both established and emerging talents—a platform to test themselves and grow in their sporting careers. It’s a context where performance and determination count, but also human values and equal opportunities: principles we deeply hold dear and that guided us in launching this new partnership,” said Paolo Novati, General Manager of UniCredit Allianz Assicurazioni.
Bosi and Alinovi commented – “The sixth edition of the Parma Ladies Open confirms how this tournament has become a well-established and iconic event for our city,” said Marco Bosi, Councilor for Sport for the City of Parma. “Over the years, Parma has hosted great champions and young talents destined to make their mark on world tennis. Women’s tennis has always found a knowledgeable and passionate audience here, and with this new edition scheduled for May 11th to 16th, we renew our commitment to further developing an event that combines sport, quality organization, and promotion of the local area.” The usual good wishes from the President of the Parma Tennis Club, Giampiero Alinovi, were also expressed: “This year, we are once again pleased to host the Parma Ladies Open, a major event that will bring some of the world’s top tennis players to our courts, along with a few surprises that we hope will stand out. This tournament is part of a long-standing tradition that sees our club as a leader in organizing top-level tennis events, and we are delighted to welcome the athletes and all the fans who wish to enjoy a high-quality sporting spectacle. As always, we must express our gratitude to the institutions that support us, particularly the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Municipality of Parma, as well as to MEF Tennis Events for their continued collaboration, in addition to the sponsors and our members who contribute significantly to the event.”
The importance of benchmarks: the words of Councilor Frisoni – “The Parma Ladies Open confirms its position as a key event in the international tennis scene and one of the events that strengthens the Emilia-Romagna sports system,” said Councilor for Tourism, Commerce, and Sport Roberta Frisoni. “This is a tournament that over the years has brought some of the best players on the world circuit to Parma and continues to stand out for its technical prowess and quality of participation, consolidating the city’s presence on the international sports calendar. Support for women’s sport also begins here: the opportunity to compete in high-level competitions and to promote women’s sports competitions. Seeing athletes competing at the highest levels up close offers girls and young athletes a concrete, not abstract, benchmark on which to build expectations and ambitions. At the same time, events like this contribute to building a stable presence of quality events over time, combining sport, participation, attractiveness, and the promotion of our region. This is also how a system is strengthened: by providing continuity, recognition, and content to events, and by allowing cities like Parma and Emilia-Romagna to consolidate their role in the national and international sports landscape.
Ticket office now open on the official website – The ticket office is now open on the official website, www.parmaladiesopen.com. A 20% discount is available on all tickets and season tickets purchased on www.ticketmaster.it until April 30th. For press accreditation requests, please email credentials@meftennisevents.com.