This week sees the return of the Italian Open, with many of the world’s top players in action.Aryna Sabalenka enters the tournament looking to build on her win in Madrid last week, while Serena Williams is set to make her first appearance since this year’s Australian Open.Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s tournament:
What is it?
The Italian Open is regarded as one of the most important clay-court competitions. Classified as a WTA 1000 event, the prize money is more than 1.5 million euros.
Generally played in the build-up to the French Open, the tournament tends to take place in the second week of May every season but was played in September last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2011, the event was merged with a similar men’s edition, which is often referred to as the Rome Masters.
When is it?
This year’s event takes place from the 9th-16th May.
The majority of the world’s highest-ranked players have received a bye through to round two, but the likes of Coco Gauff and Anastasija Sevastova have already won their first-round matches.
Where is it?
The tournament was initially held in Milan, Italy, but has been played in Rome at the Foro Italico sports complex since 1934.
The venue was built between 1928 and 1938 and was originally known as the Foro Mussolini (Mussolini’s Forum).
The complex has hosted a number of major sporting events aside from tennis, including the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Who’s playing?
Serena Williams makes her long-awaited return to tennis following her oral surgery and is seeded eighth.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner has a bye through to round two, where she will face either Laura Siegemund or Nadia Podoroska.
World number one Ashleigh Barty will also compete this week, as will Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka.
Great Britain's Johanna Konta is seeded 16th for this week’s event.
Who has previously won the competition?
Chris Evert is the most successful player in the history of the tournament, having won in Rome on five occasions.
Williams, however, has won the most matches overall –– emerging victorious in 45 of her 53 ties, on her way to winning four titles.
Romania’s Simona Halep is the defending champion and has reached the final in three of the previous four years.
How to watch?
You can watch WTA tournaments exclusively on Amazon Prime Video at no extra cost for existing Prime members.
In North America, fans will be able to watch matches on the Tennis Channel.