Italian Open: History, Facts, Venue, Results and Winners From Last 5 Years( 2018,2019,2020,2021,2022) & Much More

The Italian Open (the former Italian International Championships) is a tennis tournament held in Rome, Italy. But the men’s event is an ATP Tour Masters 1000 on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour. On the contrary, the women’s event is a WTA 1000 on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour. For the first 80 years, the men’s and women’s titles were separate events though. However, in 2011, they decided to combine the two.

Thus, the Italian Open is one of the key clay tennis titles in the world. For the male edition, the event is also famous as the Rome Masters.

Moreover, if you would prefer to know more about the Italian Open, you are welcome here. Ahead we shall be stating many more unknown facts about this Italian tennis title. Hence, scroll over and keep reading along.

History

Thus, the Italian Open has a pretty lengthy history of champions who have enhanced its status. Moreover, there are many others, who despite not winning have added glory to it.

Count Alberto was the founder of the Italian Open. Thus, the first tennis championship took place in Milan in 1930 at the Tennis Club. Thus, Bill Tilden and Lil Alvarez won the singles at the first tennis event.

Until 1934, the titles were all held in Milan. However, in 1935, the event shifted to Rome’s Foro Italico. Between 1936 and 1949, there were no further editions though. Therefore, in 1950, the competition resumed. Moreover, the event took place at the Sporting Club in Turin in 1961.

Facts

Different Names

Although the Italian Open is its official name, it is also quite popular as the sponsor’s name, Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Moreover, you might have also heard it being called the Rome Masters as it is an ATP Masters 1000 event. Initially, though, the Italian Open was widely famous as the Italian International Championships.

Tradition

Therefore, the Italian Open is the fourth oldest ATP Masters 1000 event (1899). It came after the Canadian Open (1881), the Monte-Carlo Masters (1897), and the Cincinnati Masters (1899). Thus, the first tournament took place in 1930. While Bill Tilden of the US won the men’s event, Alvarez of Spain won the women’s event.

Combining

Likewise, for the first 80 years, the men’s and women’s tournaments were separate events. However, they decided to merge the two in 2011, as already said earlier. Although the women’s tournament is a WTA 1000 event, it is optional. After becoming a joint ATP-WTA event, Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova won the men’s and women’s titles, respectively.

Italian Open & Its Venue

The setting up of the Foro Italico sports complex began in 1928. It includes the Stadio Olimpico as well as an aquatics center. Besides, there are 11 clay courts at the tennis center. Among these, 8 are used for events and 3 are used for training.

Further, it houses 3 show courts too. The new Campo Centrale here opened in 2010 and can seat up to 10,400 viewers. The other 2 primary courts are Super Tennis Arena and Stadio Pietrangeli. Moreover, the latter is one of the most stunning tennis settings in the world. It is half-buried and skirted by 18 marble statues.

Italian Open & Roll of Honor

It doesn’t come as a surprise that Rafael Nadal ruled the event. He is a Spanish tennis player who has won the Italian Open title 9 times. In addition, with 5 titles, Novak is the next best in line. Further, Thomas Muster ranks third with 3 titles to his credit.

Italian OpenHowever, Rafael holds other records at the same time as well. They include the most running titles won (3), most solid finals (6), and most straight matches won (17). Rafael has appeared in 11 finals, while Novak has played in 10.

Likewise, Alexander defeated Novak in the final of the 2017 ATP Masters 1000. Thus, he became the first player born in the 1990s to win an ATP Masters 1000 title.

Talking of the women’s event, Chris Evert has 5 titles to her resume. On the contrary, Martinez, Gabriela, and Serena Williams have all won the title 4 times each.

Italian Open Doubles

Neale Fraser of Australia has won 6 doubles titles. On the other hand, Roy, Brian, and Raul – each have 4 to their credit. Thus, the Bryan Brothers have 4 titles under their belt among the current crop.

Wade of the UK has 4 doubles titles to her name. Likewise, Martina, Hingis, and Shuai have won thrice each.

Italian Open & Lack of Its Success

The last Italian to win the men’s game was Adriano in 1976. Reggi, another Italian, won the women’s event in 1985 for the last time. However, Sara managed to finish second to Serena in 2014. Thus, there is indeed a lack of wins from the Italian side.

How to Watch Italian Open

Thus, to watch the event online, you will need to subscribe to Prime. You can find the highlights on YouTube’s Primer sports page though. Further, if you don’t have a membership, you can enjoy a 30-day free trial plan too. Therefore, you can easily watch the 8-day long game anytime through the free plan. Call your friends and family over, and have a nice watch party in your cozy homes.

Italian Open & Its Tickets

The official Italian Open website is the best place to buy tickets to the event. Thus, Central Court tickets are available for the main stadium, the Grand-Stand arena, and the area of the grounds. In addition, it includes outdoor courts as well.

Special tickets go on sale too. They give added offers such as access to an AC lounge area and a separate entrance. Good Hospitality, Club Suite Package, Courtside Hospitality, Gold and Platinum Rome with lower-tier seating, and hotel bookings are the options.

Italian Open & Its Previous Winners

ATP

  • Carlos Moyá – 2004
  • Rafeal Nadal – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2021
  • Novak Djokovic – 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2020
  • Andy Murray – 2016
  • Alexander Zverev – 2017

WTA

  • Amelie Mauresmo – 2004, 2005
  • Martina Hingis – 2006
  • Jelena Janković – 2007, 2008
  • Dinara Safina – 2009
  • María José Martínez Sánchez – 2010
  • Maria Sharapova – 2011, 2012, 2015
  • Serena Williams – 2013, 2014, 2016
  • Elina Svitolina – 2017, 2018
  • Karolína Plíšková  – 2019
  • Simona Halep – 2020
  • Iga Świątek – 2021

Italian Open 2021

The event eventually shifted back to May 2021. In 2020, however, it had to be moved to the middle of September due to the pandemic. Only a small number of viewers attended it though. But after the second round, 25% of fans received a permit to be at the event. The 2021 edition took place from 8-16 May.

Italian Open Prize Money

The men’s prize pool for the 2021 Italian Open was €2 million, while the women’s pool was €1.5 million. So, the money distribution among the winners and runner-ups in each category is as follows:

  • Men’s Singles – €245,085 (Winner) and €145,000 (Runner-up)
  • Women’s Singles – €178,630 (Winner) and €132,258 (Runner-up)
  • Men’s Doubles – €50,000 (Winner) and €35,000 (Runner-up)
  • Women’s Doubles – €54,032 (Winner) and €35,476 (Runner-up)

The overall ATP prize pool for the 2021 edition was €2,082,960. There was also a decrease of 39.9% from €3,465,045 for the ATP. Thus, from €1,692,169 to €1,577,613, the WTA side saw a lower drop of 6.77%.

Despite the drop in total prize money, the ATP winner got €245,085 – a 19.44% rise over 2020’s total. The WTA winner, however, won €178,630, a decline of 12.94% from 2020. Thus, this year’s runner-ups won €145,000 after a 3.33% cut.

Italian Open Results and Winners (Last 5 years)

Italian Open 2017

Men’s Singles

Winner – Alexander Zverev

Runner-up – Novak Djokovic

Score – 6-4, 6-3

Men’s Doubles

Winner – Pierre-Hugues Herbert & France Nicolas Mahut

Runner-up – Ivan Dodig & Marcel Granollers

Score – 4-6, 6-4, 10-3

Women’s Singles

Winner – Elina Svitolina

Runner-up – Simona Halep

Score – 4-6, 7-5, 6-1

Women’s Doubles

Winner – Chan Yung-jan & Martina Hingis

Runner-up – Ekaterina Makarova & Elena Vesnina

Score – 7-5, 7-6

Italian Open 2018

Men’s Singles

Winner – Rafeal Nadal

Runner-up – Alexander Zverev

Score – 6-1, 1-6, 6-3

Men’s Doubles

Winner – Juan Sebastian Cabal & Robert Farah

Runner-up – Pablo Carreño Busta & João Sousa

Score – 3-6, 6-4, 10-4

Women’s Singles

Winner – Elina Svitolina

Runner-up – Simona Halep

Score – 6-0, 6-4

Women’s Doubles

Winner – Ashleigh Barty & Demi Schuurs

Runner-up – Andrea Sestini Hlaváčková & Barbora Strýcová

Score – 6-3, 6-4

Italian Open 2019

Men’s Singles

Winner – Rafael Nadal

Runner-up – Novak Djokovic

Score – 6-0, 4-6, 6-1

Men’s Doubles

Winner – Juan Cabal & Robert Farah

Runner-up – Raven Klaasen & Michael Venus

Score – 6-1, 6-3

Women’s Singles

Winner – Karolína Plíšková

Runner-up – Johanna Konta

Score – 6-3, 6-4

Women’s Doubles

Winner – Victoria Azarenka & Ashleigh Barty

Runner-up – Anna-Lena Grönefeld & Demi Schuurs

Score – 4-6, 6-0, 10-3

Italian Open 2020

Men’s Singles

Winner – Novak Djokovic

Runner-up – Diego Schwartzman

Score – 7-5, 6-3

Men’s Doubles

Winner – Marcel Granollers & Horacio Zeballos

Runner-up – Jeremy Chardy & Fabrice Martin

Score – 6-4, 5-7, 10-8

Women’s Singles

Winner – Simona Halep

Runner-up – Plíšková

Score – 6-0, 2-1 ret.

Women’s Doubles

Winner – Hsieh Su-wei & Barbora Strýcová

Runner-up – Anna-Lena Friedsam & Romania Raluca Olaru

Score – 6-2, 6-2

Italian Open 2021

Men’s Singles

Winner – Refael Nadal

Runner-up – Novak Djokovic

Score – 7-5, 1-6, 6-3

Men’s Doubles

Winner – Nikola Mektić & Mate Pavić

Runner-up – Rajeev Ram & Joe Salisbury

Score – 6-4, 7-6

Women’s Singles

Winner – Iga Świątek

Runner-up – Karolina Plíšková

Score – 6-0, 6-0

Women’s Doubles

Winner – Sharon Fichman & Giuliana Olmos

Runner-up – Kristina Mladenovic & Marketa Vondrousova

Score – 4-6, 7-5, 10-5

Italian Open 2022

Men’s Singles

Winner – Novak Djokovic

Runner-up – Stefanos Tsitsipas

Score – 6-0, 7-6

Men’s Doubles

Winner – Nikola Mektić & Mate Pavić

Runner-up – John Isner & Diego Schwartzman

Score – 6-3, 6-7(6-8), [12-10]

Women’s Singles

Winner – Iga Świątek

Runner-up – Ons Jabeur

Score – 6-2, 6-2

Women’s Doubles

Winner – Veronika Kudermetova & Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

Runner-up – Gabriela Dabrowski & Mexico Giuliana Olmos

Score – 1–6, 6–4, [10–7]

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