Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Rome - WTA Premier 5

[Moxie]

DATE: September 14 - 21, 2020
SURFACE: Clay
PRIZE MONEY: $2,098,290
FIELD SIZE: 64
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Karolina Pliskova

Seeds:

1. Simona Halep
2. Karolina Pliskova
3. Sofia Kenin
4. Elina Svitolina
5. Kiki Bertens
6. Belinda Bencic
7. Johanna Konta
8. Petra Martic
9. Garbine Muguruza
10. Elena Rybakina
11. Elise Mertens
12. Marketa Vondrousova
13. Alison Riske
14. Anett Kontaveit
15. Angelique Kerber
16. Donna Vekic

The Tournament:

The Italian Open, originally called the "Italian International Championships", is a tennis tournament held in Rome, Italy. It is one of the most important clay tennis tournaments in the world with the men's competition being an ATP Tour Masters 1000 event on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour, and the women's competition being a Premier 5 event on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour. The two events were combined in 2011. The tournament is played on clay courts, normally during the second week of May, but due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, it has shifted to mid-September.

The Italian government has issued new coronavirus regulations that lift some restrictions for sports competitions, which could help tennis players avoid quarantine if they play Rome. The national Council of Ministers will now allow an athlete and any team members to enter even if they are coming from a country from where travel is currently prohibited or where quarantine is required, as long as they have tested negative for the virus within the previous 48 hours.

About Rome:

Rome is the Eternal City, at once a great modern metropolis, and a living museum of 2000+ years of history. Its skyline includes the Colosseum, and St. Peter's Basilica. Italy has been rocked hard by the Covid crisis, but, like all great cities, Rome is shaken, but not cowed. When travel is an option again, a great way to see Rome is through it's neighborhoods and local food. It's easy to get lost in the notion that you have to hit all of the ancient sights. But don't forget to hang out with the locals.

Tourism Guide:




TV Coverage:

Australia - beIN
Austria - DAZN
Belarus - Belarus TV
Belgium - beIN
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia - IKO SportKlub
Bulgaria - Bulsat
Canada - TVA Sports, DAZN
Caribbean - SportsMax
China - iQIYI
Chinese Taipei - Sportcast
Czech Republic - O2 Czech Sports
Denmark - TV2
Estonia - Telia
Finland - NENT
France - beIN
Germany - DAZN
Greece - Cosmote TV
Hong Kong - Now TV
Hungary - Digisport
Italy, San Marino & Vatican City - Super Tennis
Japan - DAZN
Latin America - Sony
Latvia - Best4Sport
Malaysia & Brunei - Astro
Middle East & North Africa - beIN
Netherlands - Fox Sports
New Zealand - Spark
Norway - NENT
Poland - TVP Sport
Romania - Digisport
Russia - Match TV
Singapore - Starhub
Slovakia - Digisport
South Korea - Eclat
Switzerland - DAZN
Sweden - NENT
Thailand - Truevision
Turkey - beIN
Ukraine - Match TV, Poverkhnost
UK & Ireland - BT Sport
USA - Tennis Channel
Vietnam - Vietcontent

 

[tented]

The Draw:

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Attention Tented

This is the field for Instanbul not Rome,the final was played earlier today with the winner being Tig.

 

[tented]

Attention Tented

This is the field for Instanbul not Rome,the final was played earlier today with the winner being Tig.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Interesting match ups for 15th September,

A.Kontaveit (14) vs C.Garcia
G.Muguruza (9) vs S.Stephens
O.Jabeur vs C.Gauff.

If anyone gets the chance to go to Rome,apart from being an amazing city,this tournament is one of my favorites,very fan friendly and you can get up quite close to the players and get autographs.,also the amenities are great.Shame this year due to COVID no fans,hopefully next year.

 

[Moxie]

I see that Ostapenko went out first round, former RG winner. What has happened to her?? She's just a kid.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I see that Ostapenko went out first round, former RG winner. What has happened to her?? She's just a kid.

Her game is very 'high risk' she loves painting lines and just going for winners,resulting in high UFE count.Ostapenko was ranked No 5 in the world.Her ranking dropped dramatically., due to injuries and lack of form.She hired Marion Bartoli as her coach in 2018,where she won her first final in Luxemburg since 2017.Ostapenko withdrew from Auckland tournament in 2020 before the AO as her father passed away,she wasn't certain if she was going to play the AO in 2020 she played lost in Rd2.Jelena played Fed Cup,lost to Serena Williams,though defeated Sofia Kenin,lost in the deciding doubles against Kenin/Matte-Sands.Jelena went on to play in St.Petersburg though she was ill and went out in Rd 1.

 

[kskate2]

Her game is very 'high risk' she loves painting lines and just going for winners,resulting in high UFE count.Ostapenko was ranked No 5 in the world.Her ranking dropped dramatically., due to injuries and lack of form.She hired Marion Bartoli as her coach in 2018,where she won her first final in Luxemburg since 2017.Ostapenko withdrew from Auckland tournament in 2020 before the AO as her father passed away,she wasn't certain if she was going to play the AO in 2020 she played lost in Rd2.Jelena played Fed Cup,lost to Serena Williams,though defeated Sofia Kenin,lost in the deciding doubles against Kenin/Matte-Sands.Jelena went on to play in St.Petersburg though she was ill and went out in Rd 1.

Seems like her sophomore slump has lasted a few years. Like Mugu, she didn't really handle all the attention, expectation and pressure that comes with being a slam champion. Hopefully she'll get it together while she's in her prime years. Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot and the tour is wide open. She could have raked in at least one or 2 more slams since 2017.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rain getting heavier in Rome,match between Garbine vs Sloane,Garbine winning the 1st set 63....both players going off court.
Play has now resumed after 40 minutes.
G.Muguruza (9) d S.Stephens 63 63

Garbine will play Gauff in her next match.

Earlier matches results,
C.Gauff d O.Jabeur 64 63...this is the second WTA match on clay for Coco.
A.Kontaveit too strong in the end for Garcia 63 76(1) she found her clay feet well,coming from the HC.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Seems like her sophomore slump has lasted a few years. Like Mugu, she didn't really handle all the attention, expectation and pressure that comes with being a slam champion. Hopefully she'll get it together while she's in her prime years. Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot and the tour is wide open. She could have raked in at least one or 2 more slams since 2017.

Garbine came out of the wilderness this year finding her tennis and making the final at the AO.
Hopefully Jelena can do the same.,with the tour wide open.

 

[Moxie]

Was glad to see Garbiñe win today. Gauff had a big win, too.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Matches that stand out for me,Wednesday 16/9/2020.

Defending champion Karolina Pliskova (2) (CZE) vs B.Strycova (CZE)
Simona Halep (1) (ROU) vs WC Jasmine Paolini (ITA)
V.Azarenka vs Venus Williams WC
A.Pavlyuckenkova (RUS) vs E.Svitolina (4) (UKR)
Dayana Yastremska (UKR) vs Amanda Anisimova (USA).

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Results,

Momentum swings in their match between Azarenka and Venus Williams especially in the 1st set which went to a t/breaker.Vika found her game on the clay in the 2nd set.
Azarenka d Venus Williams 76(7) 62

Simona Halep had a tough fight on her hands with WC Jasmine Paolini,good first test on the clay for Simona winning 63 64.
Defending champion Pliskova had a straight forward win over Strycova 63 63
Svilolina was pushed by Pavlyuchenkova in the 2nd set,she was serving for the match 5-4 and was broken,went t/breaker which she won 76(4).1st set 63.

Dayana Yastremska d Amanda Anisimova 46 76(3) 64.

 

[Moxie]

I saw some of Yazstremska v. Anisimova today, and Yaz really wrested that match away, once she got on a roll. She turned the tide in the 2nd.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Some stand out matches for Thursday 17/9/20,

Garbine Muguruza (9) vs Cori Gauff
Sofia Kenin (3) vs Victoria Azarenka
Kiki Bertens (5) vs Polona Hercog
Anett Konaveit (14) vs Svetlana Kuznetsova
Yulia Pitintseva Petra Martic (8).

 

[Moxie]

Muguruza v. Gauff was entertaining and some excellent hitting, but Gauff had about 15 DFs. Carillo said "She had great fight today, but her fight was better than her tennis." Fun to watch.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Muguruza v. Gauff was entertaining and some excellent hitting, but Gauff had about 15 DFs. Carillo said "She had great fight today, but her fight was better than her tennis." Fun to watch.

Gauff needs to address her serve,it has been wayward at times at the tournaments she has played this year.

 

[Jelenafan]

Damn, Azarenka has 6-0, 5-0 lead over Sofia Kenin

 

[Jelenafan]

Double Bagel Vika wins.
Over this years AO champ.

IIRC Last time a top five player lost in a double bagel was back in 81 (?) Chrissie over Martina

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Attention Kenin you cannot go through Vika on a tennis court?
Mama Mia 2 bagels,
These two also play doubles together.
Vika taking no prisoners.Well Done Vika,considering you just changed surface!