Italian Open to Have a Stronger Men’s Field Than US Open 2020

The entry list for the ATP Italian Open is out. If you take a look at the recently released list, the most eye-catching detail is the inclusion of 19 of the top 20 players in the ATP rankings. For the first in six months, a top-level tennis event can boast of having most of the best players ready to compete. The main draw of the Italian Open will start on September 14, just a day after the US Open ends.

The men’s field at the Masters 1000 event in Rome will be headed by world number one Novak Djokovic. The Italian Open will be the first event for world number two Rafael Nadal in over six months. Nine-time Rome champion Nadal will not be competing at the Western and Southern Open and the US Open. The only top-20 player missing from the Rome Masters entry list is Roger Federer. The Swiss superstar called off his 2020 season after undergoing a second surgery on his knee.

ATP Italian Open boasts of a strong field

An original cut-off entry list of 36 players has been released. The other 20 entries in the 56-player draw will comprise of four wild cards, eight qualifiers, and eight special exempts. The Rome Masters event is the comeback event for many of the players on the list. The players skipped the US hard-court events to focus on the clay-court events in Europe.

Nadal and Djokovic will face stiff competition from Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev. Zverev was the 2017 champion at the Italian Open. Nadal is the defending champion. Another noteworthy name on the list is local hero Fabio Fognini. The Italian star is returning after surgeries on both ankles. His countryman Matteo Berrettini is also a player to watch out for. Gael Monfils and Stan Wawrinka also add to the star power.

Higher excitement than US Open?

The list of ‘alternates’ was also announced, featuring former Grand Slam winner Marin Cilic. Frenchmen Joe Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet are also part of that list.

The Italian Open was to start on September 20, just a week before the French Open. But the cancellation of the Madrid Open preponed the Italian Open to give players that extra week before Roland Garros. Given the power-packed entry list, it will not be a surprise if the Italian Open is a more anticipated event than the US Open.

Also read – How and Where to Watch the Western & Southern Open 2020?