Top ten ATP player slams the conditions at ‘dangerous’ Italian Open and says one court is ‘unplayable’ despite winning

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The 2025 Italian Open is well underway as the stars of the ATP Tour search for success in Rome.

World number one, Jannik Sinner’s return to tennis has unsurprisingly dominated the headlines ahead of this year’s tournament.

Sinner was suspended for three months earlier this year, which saw him miss four Masters 1000 tournaments.

Fans in Rome are eagerly anticipating their heroes’ return to competition at this year’s Italian Open, with Sinner set to take on Mariano Navone in his opener on Saturday, May 10.

Sinner’s return, combined with the other ‘big’ news this week, has given fans plenty of reason to celebrate in Rome, although not everyone is having the best of times, as one ATP star has slammed the conditions at the event after his opening match.

Holger Rune says the courts at the Italian Open are ‘dangerous’ and ‘not playable’ after his opening win

Denmark’s Holger Rune beat Francisco Comesana in three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, but was angered by the conditions at Super Tennis Arena.

“I found the conditions very, very difficult on this court. It’s a new court. It was very tough to move,” he said.

“I think it’s dangerous for the players to play on this court. But I got through, and I am very happy I got through.

“He was playing phenomenal, big respect for [Francisco] Comesana, he has a bright future ahead of him, and from my side, I am happy I found a way.

“I haven’t actually played that many long matches this clay season, so I was happy to test myself. I was happy with my physical level, now it’s about recovery.”

Rune expressed his concern at the risk of getting injured on courts he considers to be ‘not playable’.

“I maybe used a bit of unnecessary energy on it in the first set [complaining]. But it was very difficult,” he said.

“It is before the French Open, and we don’t want to risk injuries. I honestly think it’s not playable. That’s my opinion.

“I am from Denmark, and in Denmark, at the beginning of the clay season, we really know what not-ready clay courts look like, so trust me.”

Rune will no doubt hope to be moved onto another court when he returns to take on Corentin Moutet in his third-round match over the weekend.

Holger Rune improves Italian Open record with win over Francisco Comesana

Rune’s win over Comesana was his seventh in the Italian capital, as he continues to find his best tennis in Rome.

The Danish star is a former finalist at the Italian Open, narrowly coming up short two years ago to Daniil Medvedev, having scored several impressive wins along the way.

• 2023 Italian Open F – Holger Rune lost to Daniil Medvedev, 5-7, 5-7
• 2023 Italian Open SF – Holger Rune beat Casper Ruud, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2
• 2023 Italian Open QF – Holger Rune beat Novak Djokovic, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
• 2023 Italian Open 4R – Holger Rune beat Alexei Popyrin, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
• 2023 Italian Open 3R – Holger Rune beat Fabio Fognini, 6-4, 6-2
• 2023 Italian Open 2R- Holger Rune beat Arthur Fils, 6-3, 6-3

Statistically, Rune has performed better in Rome than at any other Masters 1000 tournament, barring the Paris Masters, where he won in 2022.

He’ll look to extend his record to 8-2 when he takes on Moutet in the third round, a man he’s played twice before on the ATP Tour.

• 2025 Indian Wells 2R – Holger Rune beat Corentin Moutet, 6-2, 6-4
• 2022 Adelaide 1 1R – Corentin Moutet beat Holger Rune, 7-6, 6-4

Rune levelled the head-to-head at 1-1 with his win over the Frenchman in the second round of Indian Wells earlier this year.

Only time will tell who will come out on top in their third career meeting, but it’ll definitely be worth tuning in for.

Rune will take on Moutet for a place in the fourth round of the 2025 Italian Open on Sunday, May 11.