All the charm of the Internazionali di Roma

The Internazionali BNL d'Italia could not have come at a better time, with tennis being the most popular sport at the moment, thanks in part to the success of Challengers. And while the first qualifying matches have already begun on the scenic clay court set up in Piazza del Popolo in Rome, we can already imagine the enthusiasm of the Roman crowd for what is undoubtedly the most anticipated tournament for Italian tennis. From May 6th to 19th, the Foro Italico in Rome will host the 81st edition of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, and the Roman red clay will welcome the best players in the world, ready to battle it out for the ATP Master 1000 and WTA 1000 titles.

The ATP and WTA 2024 tour is sailing smoothly, with the Monte Carlo and Madrid tournaments already crowning Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev as champions for the men's circuit and Iga Swiatek as the champion for the women's circuit. Unfortunately, the men's draw, along with the home crowd, mourns the absence of Jannik Sinner, who was very disappointed at the idea of not competing in Rome and missing the chance to play in front of his fans. However, the South Tyrolean is still dealing with a hip injury that had already forced him to withdraw from the quarter-finals in Madrid against Felix Auger-Aliassime. Nevertheless, Sinner has already promised his fans that he will turn this disappointment into a driving force to achieve his best at the Nitto ATP Finals in Torino at the end of the season. The Internazionali BNL d'Italia will also be without Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz, another great generational phenomenon unable to participate due to an arm injury.

But for two "new" absent stars, there are two "old" ones ready to battle for the top spot on the Roman tennis stage. Both Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal, the two most decorated players in the history of the Grand Slam, with 6 and 10 wins respectively in the Rome tournament, are ready to face each other on the court. The Spaniard, in particular, will also be involved in another stage of his bittersweet farewell tour of the red clay courts where he has written his legend. In the women's circuit, Iga Swiatek, the queen of the WTA and already a two-time champion at the Foro Italico (2021 and 2022), will face, among others, defending champion Elena Rybakina and challengers Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, to solidify her increasingly dominant reign, reaffirmed most recently in Spanish clay. But besides the great tennis spectacle, thanks to the enchanting setting of the Foro Italico, combined with the elegance and charm of the Eternal City, the Internazionali BNL d'Italia create a magical atmosphere that attracts thousands of fans and tourists every year. Each year, numerous initiatives are organized to take advantage of the Roman stage, unique in the world, to involve the city and increase the tournament's appeal.

For the 2024 edition, in particular, initiatives worthy of the coolest events in the fashion world have been implemented, including the draw at the Trevi Fountain in the presence of tournament director Paolo Lorenzi and Alessandro Onorato, Councilor for Sports, Tourism, and Major Events, who declared: "From the press conference at the Colosseum to the red clay court in Piazza del Popolo, passing through the draw at the Trevi Fountain. The combination of Tennis Internazionali and Rome is becoming more and more spectacular. Never like this year, the tournament involves the city." Another one of the organization's ideas is the set-up of a real red clay court in the center of Piazza del Popolo - whose images have already gone around the world - used to host the men's and women's pre-qualifying rounds, giving all citizens the chance to participate in the event, regardless of their economic possibilities. The Internazionali BNL d'Italia is an important showcase for brands and companies, who take advantage of the event to promote themselves and reach a vast and qualified audience.

Among the main sponsors are BNL, the tournament's title sponsor, and Joma, the official apparel partner, along with big names such as BMW, Emirates, and Heineken. The combination of tennis and lifestyle is, therefore, one of the key elements of the success of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. The event represents a unique opportunity to experience an exciting mix of sports, fashion, food, and culture. Fans can witness high-level matches, admire the most famous champions in the world, and immerse themselves in the enchanting atmosphere of the Eternal City.