Tennis - Internazionali BNL Roma - 2012 from 12 to 20th may

HISTORY

The history of Italy’s International Championships (Internazionali d'Italia) started in 1930 but not in the present location of the Foro Italico Tennis courts. The first five editions were held in the Tennis Club Milano in Via Arimondi (Milan) thanks to the commitment and passion of Earl Alberto Bonacossa. 


In 2005 we had a memorable final, once again won by a Spanish player, Nadal who defeated the Argentinian Coria in five straight sets in an over 5-hour long match which was followed by 3.600.000 television spectators. Even more memorable was the 2006 final, which again saw Nadal winning with a tie-break in the fifth and final set against the world’s number 1 player Roger Federer, after eliminating two match points in favour of the Swiss player. These two finals are ranked number 1 and 2 in the list of longest final matches ever: 5 hours and 14 minutes in 2005, 5 hours and 6 minutes in 2006. Shorter but nonetheless as significant was Nadal’s third trophy in 2007 against Gonzalez from Chile.

In 2008 Novak Djokovic beated the Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka and became the first Serbian player to win in Rome. In 2009 and again in 2010, Nadal returned to dominate the courts and the Spanish left-hander succeeded in conquering his fifth title, a record for this Tournament.

The first Italian success in the Women’s tournament belongs to Lucia Valerio. A finalist in the first ever tournament in 1930 when she was defeated by the Spaniard De Alvarez. Lucia conquered her first title in 1931 by beating the US player Andrus 26 62 60, and was again a finalist in three later editions (1932, 1934 and 1935). 

On the Men’s side, the record belongs to Drobny, Mulligan and Muster with three trophies each and on the Women’s side, Chris Evert is the undisputed champion with five titles, followed by Gabriela Sabatini and Conchita Martinez with 4 each. In 2002 Serena Williams won the tournament against the Belgian Henin, while another player from Belgium, Kim Clijsters, was crowned in 2003 following a passionate match against the French player Amelie Mauresmo. After losing three finals (2000, 2001 and 2003), the French champion conquered both the 2004 edition, defeating the American Jennifer Capriati in the Final and the 2005 edition when she won against the Swiss player Schnyder. 2006 saw the comeback of Martina Hingis - a winner in 1998 - while in 2007 the Serb Jelena Jankovic won her first Italian trophy. In 2008 Jelena Jankovic won her second straight title against the young French player Alizé Cornet. In 2009 Dinara Safina won her first title in Rome - one of the most important success in her career - beating Svetlana Kuznetsova in an all “Russian” final. 2010 saw the arrival of a Spanish newcomer, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez who won the title against Jelena Jankovic but that same year there was also an Italian “touch” for the Foro Italico crowd when Flavia Pennetta and Gisela Dulko won the Women’s Double Title. 

more info at : internazionalibnlditalia.com