We’ll be visiting the 2024 Italian Open and below we share our best tips for anyone going to the popular Masters 1000 tournament in Rome this May.
Italian Open is the third Masters 1000 event of the clay season, following Monte Carlo and Madrid.
- Official Name: Internazionali BNL d’Italia
- Dates: The Italian Open is being played from 6-19 May 2024 (including qualifiers)
- Venue: Foro Italico, Rome, Italy
- Weather: Expect warm and nice weather. The average daytime temperature is usually between 20 and 25°C in May.
About the Tournament
The ATP Rome event features a lot of entertainment and is considered one of the more glamorous locations on the ATP Tour.
It’s one of three Masters 1000 tournaments being played on clay courts and also part of Women’s WTA 1000Â tour.
The Italian Open is held at the Foro Italico tennis center with a total of 14 tennis courts (all clay). Nine of them are in use for matches during the tournament. Stadio Centrale is the main court that takes around 10,400 fans at the moment and there also two other stadium courts.
Rafael Nadal is one of the more successful players in Rome with 10 titles to his name. Daniil Medvedev is the defending Men’s SIngles champion after beating Holger Rune (7-5, 7-5) in the 2023 final. Current Women’s singles champion is Elena Rybakina.
Internazionali BNL d’Italia is now one of the biggest clay tournaments in the world and you can be sure to see all top names competing here.
Buying Tickets for the Italian Open
As for most tennis events, we recommend buying tickets from the official website. Standard tickets can be bought for the Stadio Centrale and all the other courts. On the main court there are great views from basically any seat as it’s very steep and with curved corners. There is also a general admission area in Grandstand, basically at the very back.
You can also find a bunch of special packages such as Club Suite Package and Gold and Platinum Rome Semis and Final. Some deals include access to special amenities and lounge areas.
Another option is to buy tickets from reseller websites, ex Viagogo.
Location – Tips for Traveling Around
The Foro Italico tennis center is located in the north part of the city, around 30 min drive from the Roma Termini.
Metro is a great way of getting around the city, however the closest metro stop from the venue is almost 30 min walk away. Another option is to use the bus as there are plenty of stops around the stadiums that goes to all parts of the city.
Taxi services works well, just not a good idea right after a match with a lot of people in the area.
When planning your trip, try using the official app of the tournament for tips and advice.
See Rome
Rome is obviously a fantastic city for tourism, make sure you visit different parts of the central areas when not at the tennis venue. For any specific tours or activities we recommend booking in advance as it can get quite crowded in Rome during the summer months.
Some interesting areas in Rome:
- Trastevere, nice area with a lot of bars/restaurants and a ncie view of the city from Janiculum hill.
- Tridente – Very touristy, where you’ll find Campo Marzio, The Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.
- Prati – A bit north of the Vatican, a wealthy neighbourhood with fantastic architecture.
- Monti – Central part that has become more of a hip, youthful neighbourhood with a lot to experience.
- Villa Borghese – A very central landscape garden with lakes, villas and museums.
What to Bring?
Note first of all that you can not bring any food or drinks into the matches.
We recommend wearing light clothes, a hat/cap and sunblock for sure. Decent shoes and an umbrella can also be a good idea if the weather looks grey. You can bring a small camera, but as usual, no advanced camera equipment of long lenses.
There are food stalls near then main entrance for small meals, drinks and snacks. However, it’s a bit pricey and you’ll find better food elsewhere. You’ll also find vendors selling souvenirs and tennis merch.
Conclusion
Visiting Rome for the Italian Open is a must for any tennis fan. One of the most beautiful and vibrant European cities, a huge clay court tournament with the best players in the world and fantastic food and drinks! Make sure you learn some simple words and expressions in Italian to make your trip more fun.
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2 comments
Can I go with my cam? Fujifilm Xt2?
Good question, not sure they allow cameras, you have to go to the official website. My gut feeling is that it should be fine.