The ATP and WTA tours continue this week with the Italian Open, with the Madrid Open having just concluded.
Casper Ruud shocked Annabel Croft en route to the Madrid Open title, having overcome Jack Draper in the final.
Rafael Nadal congratulated Ruud on his success, with the Madrid Open trophy representing his first ATP Masters 1000 title.
The Italian Open represents another ATP Masters 1000 event for the men, while the women’s stars are also fighting for more WTA 1000 glory after Madrid.
All eyes are, however, on world number one Jannik Sinner, who is returning to tennis at the tournament after his three-month ban.
Tennis fans criticise Italian Open after stadium change
But the tournament itself has also come under the spotlight before the action has even started, with many tennis fans not happy with one court in particular.
“This was literally the whole reason I watched Rome. Why would they do this?” one tennis fan commented on X.
A second angry tennis fan said: “What a mess!” with a third disappointed supporter writing: “It looks absolutely horrible.”
A fourth noted: “Mind blowingly bad,” with a fifth and sixth saying: “Lost all the charm” and “What have they done??!!” respectively.
Iga Swiatek emulates Rafael Nadal at the Italian Open
It looks set to be different at the Italian Open this year, with the court change having left many tennis fans unhappy.
The tournament takes place at Rome’s Foro Italico, with its main court Stadio Centrale rebuilt in 2010 to accommodate over 10,000 fans.
READ MORE: WTA Italian Open 2025 – how to watch, top players, prize money & predictions
Perhaps unsurprisingly in the men’s tournament, the King of Clay Nadal boasts the most singles titles with 10.
Chris Evert meanwhile won a superb five women’s singles titles, although Iga Swiatek has stolen her thunder of late after lifting the trophy in three of the last four years.
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