In 1930, the first edition of the Italian Open was held in Milan, Italy.
Lili Alvarez, of Spain, became the first ever women’s singles champion after defeating home favourite Lucia Valerio in the championship showpiece.
Alvarez [pictured below], who was born in Italy, defeated the Italian 3–6, 8–6, 6–0.
A year later, Valerio became the first ever Italian champion at the Italian Open.
Meet Lucia Valerio
In the early 1930s, Lucia Valerio wrote her name into the Italian tennis history books.
Valerio, a three-time Roland Garros quarter-finalist, was a four-time Italian Open finalist during her career, which spanned over a decade.
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As mentioned previously, Valerio squandered her first opportunity at Italian Open glory, losing to Lili Alvarez in the final of the inaugural 1930 edition.
Valerio returned to the event in 1931, defeating America’s Dorothy Andrus 2–6, 6–2, 6–2 to win her first – and only – title at the event.
Valerio also qualified for Italian Open finals in 1932, 1934 and 1935, but lost on each occasion.
Lucia Valerio’s Italian Open finals
- 1930 – defeated by Lili Alvarez
- 1931 – CHAMPION
- 1932 – defeated by Ida Adamoff
- 1934 – defeated by Helen Jacobs
- 1935 – defeated by Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling
From 1936 to 1949, the Italian Open women’s singles event was not held.
In 1950, the event returned. That year, the Italian crowd witnessed their second female Italian Open champion when Annelies Ullstein-Bossi defeated Joan Curry in the final.
Jasmine Paolini ended Italy’s barren run
Before last year’s event, no Italian woman had won the Italian Open women’s singles event since Raffaella Reggi in 1985.
Paolini, the sixth seed at last year’s event, defeated Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2 to win her first title in Rome and end Italy’s 40-year wait for a champion.
“It’s pure joy to have this trophy in my hands here in Rome at home,” Paolini told reporters in Rome after securing the title. “Really happy about it and grateful, as well.”
“[Paolini] forced me to play that way,” Gauff said afterwards. “Maybe I could have served better and put more balls in the court, could play better. I definitely could and can. But she played to win today and she deserved to win.”
This year, Paolini has been unable to defend her title. The Italian was defeated in the third round by Elise Mertens.
On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner will be hoping to end Italy’s 50-year wait for a men’s champion.
Adriano Panatta remains the last Italian men’s champion in Rome; he won the title in 1976.