The Internationals of Rome they were supposed to be one of the great sporting events of the Italian spring and they undoubtedly are given that at Foro Italico in Rome The best players on the circuit will take to the field with the presence of a legend like Rafael Nadal. But Italy was hoping for a tricolor tournament with the presence on the pitch of Jannik Sinner (with the possibility of reaching the end) and that of Matteo Berrettini, home idol.
Internazionali Roma, the lump sums of Sinner and Berrettini
The first cold shower for the organizers and for the many fans was the resignation of Jannik Sinner. On Saturday afternoon the South Tyrolean player announced his decision not to take part in the tournament and on Sunday he explained his reasons in a press conference that is still controversial. A hip problem that appeared in Monte Carlo and which presented itself in a much more worrying way in Madrid puts the world number 2’s clay season in doubt. The hope is to see him on the pitch at Roland Garros but the doubt remains.
Another terrible blow came yesterday when Matteo Berrettini announced in a surprise press conference his decision not to take to the field today. The Roman player was supposed to challenge Stefano Napolitano in the derby but the problems arising due to the tonsillitis which forced him to give up Monaco and Madrid did not allow him to train and The Hamer decided to avoid risks and once again give up the tournament in to which he is most attached.
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Internazionali Rome, the controversy over the expensive tickets
The last time an Italian triumphed at Foro Italico dates back to 1976 and the victory of Adriano Panatta, another great home idol. From that moment on, no Italian victory and 2024 seemed like the good year to dispel this taboo with Jannik Sinner arriving in the capital as one of the big favorites of the tournament. A situation that pushed the organizers to make the cost of tickets decidedly less accessible and a choice that now, also in light of the flat rate of the most representative players of the Italian movement, is criticized a lot.
On the Twitter page, Tennis telegrams a post appears that refers to the price of the “ground” (ticket that allows free access to Pietrangeli and all the smaller fields) and it is the most popular one. For Saturday the cost is around 54 euros, considered excessive by most enthusiasts.
Tickets expensive: Bertolucci also intervenes
The former Davis Cup captain also intervenes on the topic, Paolo Bertolucci: “It’s 7-8 hours of high-level tennis with the chance to see dozens of athletes at work. How much do you pay for 90 minutes of a football match?”, he writes. A comment which, however, does not seem to calm the controversy: “I don’t know how much you pay for football, but I know that until last year it cost much less and it was a great opportunity even for those who couldn’t afford such an amount”. And the comparisons with other tournaments continue: “It is well known that International prices have tripled in the wake of the Sinner effect. The same goes for tickets for the Turin Finals. Double that of London. Monte Carlo final starting from 88 euros, Rome from 298”.
Source: Getty
