Foro Italico: Campo Centrale Will Have A Roof By 2026

Foro Italico, Rome, ATP
Foro Italico Rome (photo: Florian Heer)

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2023 (by Michael Dickens)

While the just concluded Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome produced record numbers in terms of spectators, income and economic impact, it was also a very flawed Masters 1000 combined event that was hampered by persistent rain throughout the Italian fortnight.

The women’s singles final between Elena Rybakina and Anhelina Kalinina, scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, did not begin until 11 p.m. and ended after midnight due to numerous rain interruptions that backed up the completion of the men’s singles semifinals during the day session. Meanwhile, Sunday’s start of the men’s final between Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune was delayed by one hour and 40 minutes minutes by precipitation.

Arguably, the most important takeaway from Sunday’s press conference featuring Italian tennis federation president Angelo Binaghi and Sport e Salute chief executive Vito Cozzoli was that Campo Centrale, the main stadium court at Foro Italico, will have a roof in place by 2026.

“We have been astounded by the adverse weather conditions that we faced in Rome this year, but this is nothing compared to the tragic events that hit the population of Emilia-Romagna,” Binaghi said. “As the Federation, we will try to do our part. People from the areas hit by the flood will be refunded for all tickets bought for and unused from Thursday to Sunday. Additionally, we will intervene in unprecedented and more conspicuous ways, giving financial aid and support to all our sports societies whose facilities were damaged, in accordance with the list of municipalities affected by natural disasters as published by the Government.”

Added Cozzoli: “Concerning the tournament, this was a new edition, with a new formula and plenty novelties. The venue went from 95 to 125 thousand square meters. It was an extraordinary job, made possible by the synergy between Sport e Salute and FITP. President Binaghi and I took this duty last November and we accomplished all parts of it, even with such unfavorable weather.

“The credits given by ATP and WTA are a proof of the quality result. Now, by looking at the future, our tasks cannot be considered over. We have vastly refurbished the gorgeous site of the Parco del Foro Italico, a venue that the whole world envies us. Soon, the Campo Centrale will have its roof, so that no more top matches will be forced to suspensions due to rain. The feasibility study has been granted. It is a futuristic project that will offer the city of Rome an arena that can be attractive world-wide and year-long, to host sports and non-sports events, nationally and internationally.”

Cozzoli said the focus on the Foro Italico upgrade will be with an eye toward sustainability. The roof project over Campo Centrale will blend with the landscape and the surrounding nature. “Soon, the bureaucratic journey will start,” he said. “Within six months we will have the executive project. The construction site will last for about two years, but it will not impact the course of the tournament in its natural site. The Campo Centrale will have its roof by 2026 “

Bodyguard: A tool to protect from cyber bullying

Perhaps, it’s a sign of the times that the French Tennis Federation is reaching out to offer players the opportunity to use an AI tool called Bodyguard to protect them from “cyber bullying” during Roland Garros.

Caroline Flaissier, director of the FFT, announced, “The mental health of the players is a priority for the Roland-Garros tournament. We will not accept any form of violence at our tournament. We are very proud to be the first Grand Slam tournament to offer players a solution that efficiently protects them against cyber bullying. We want to protect players from this damaging behavior, to enable them to be in peak mental condition when they compete in the tournament.”

Boris Becker: Unfiltered with plenty to say 

During a sit-down interview in Paris with The Guardian, published Monday, Boris Becker spoke about his love of Wimbledon, what it was like watching Novak Djokovic win from prison and why “tennis is a different sport when you become the hunted.”

Christopher Clarey: “Tennis & Beyond”

In Christopher Clarey‘s first post from Paris for “Tennis & Beyond,” his new Substack tennis publication, the longtime former New York Times tennis correspondent writes about the man who’s missing from this year’s Roland Garros: Rafael Nadal.

Putting Burundi on the tennis map

This week, Sada Nahimana, 22, of Burundi became the first player from her country to make a WTA main draw at the Grand Prix Son Altesse Royale La Princesse Lalla Meryem in Rabat, Morocco. The 255th-ranked Nahimana was drawn to face qualifier Jana Fett of Croatia in Monday’s first round. She lost 6-0, 6-4.

Passing shots

• Mark Philippoussis announced on Instagram that he is no longer part of Stefanos Tsitsipas’ team. “It was a great ride and experience. I’m proud of what we achieved together in the short amount of time we had. I wish you health, happiness and success for your future, on and off the court,” he wrote. Philippoussis joined forces with Tsitsipas last July and helped the current World No. 5 reach his second major final at this year’s Australian Open.

• Two-time French Open champion Novak Djokovic, who will enter this year’s Roland Garros as the No. 3 seed, turned 36 on Monday. Two of Djokovic’s 22 major titles have come at the French Open (2016 and 2021).

• Mirra Andreeva, the Russian 16-year-old who endeared Madrid audiences with her maturity and entertaining clay-court play, wasted little time in winning her opening-round qualifying match at the French Open with her 6-1, 6-4 over Polina Kudermetova on Monday. The 143rd-ranked teenager will face No. 205 Emiliana Arango of Colombia in the second round of qualifying on Wednesday.

By the numbers

Sunday’s men’s final in Rome drew 10,034 spectators to Foro Italico. Overall, this year’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia was witnessed by 298,138 fans.

“Quotable …”

“In a way number one just because it’s the first one on clay and it’s unbelievable. I would never think I would be able to make this. Then, have to be honest, Grand Slam is always bigger. Yeah, US Open is always number one there.

“This one is special because I didn’t think it was going to be able to happen, I’m going to be able to make it. I still kind of don’t believe – not that I won it, but I played so well this week. I don’t believe it.

“The way I played, I’m really happy. Happy to have this trophy back home in some time, yeah.”

– Rome champion Daniil Medvedev, asked in his post-match press conference where he would rank Sunday’s win among his many successes.

 

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