Tennis Fans Attack Italian Open’s Patriotic Move That Snubbed Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep
Wild cards are awarded to players in several different ways. A particular order is followed when giving wild cards for main draws, and local players are the first to be considered. The Italian Open organizers looked mostly at them as they sidestepped Emma Raducanu, Simona Halep, and Caroline Wozniacki when giving wild cards. However, the decision was not a sound one, Italian Open organizers looked mostly at them as they sidestepped Emma Raducanu, Simona Halep, and Caroline Wozniacki when giving wild cards. as no Italian star would be in the third round in Rome for women’s singles.
As Jasmine Paolini was eliminated from the round of 64 against Maya Sherif, 7-6, 6-2, 4-6, the women’s singles of the Rome Masters was devoid of any Italian player. Paolini did not receive a wild card herself, but those who did were eliminated like her. Tennis journalist Jose Morgado wrote on X, “Zero Italian women into the 3rd round in Rome.” Fans were not happy about the situation.
The Italian Open has a long history of only awarding wild cards to Italian players. Many tournaments often give wild cards to players who return after injury or come back from retirement. They were overlooked in Italy, angering one fan who said, “All those wildcards wasted ppl arguing for the relevant players who are coming back from retirement or injury to not get wildcards are rolling in their grave rn.”
Aside from Martina Trevisan and Sara Errani, only two Italian women who were awarded the wild card have made an appearance on the WTA Tour. Furthermore, their stint in women’s tennis was short-lived. Watching their elimination, one fan was sure, “Maybe not the best idea to give every wildcard to Italian itf players…“
Sara Errani and Lucrezia Stefanini are the only two Italian wild card players in women’s singles who reached the round of 64. Additionally, those who lost could not take a single set off of their opponents, with Errani and Stefanini losing with similar results. Noticing the debacle, one fan said, “They gave every wild cards to Italian Women who all performed dreadfully.”
Raducanu was one of the many players overlooked, as her protected ranking of 103 did not help her at all. Enraged at the fact that she was not chosen, one fan said, “Deserved for disrespecting Emma Raducanu. In my opinion.”
One fan shared a simple gif, acting as if they were surprised by the back-to-back elimination of local players. They shared the popular gif, made from a clip of the 1959 Japanese children’s show Ōkiku naru Ko, to feign their shock at the situation.
There is some relief for Italian Open fans as the men’s singles side is fairing slightly better than the women’s side.
In men’s singles, five men received wildcards into the main draw. Fabio Fognini, the most notable on the list, was eliminated in the round of 64, along with Matteo Gigante. Giulio Zepperi and Andrea Vavassori were other wildcards who were eliminated in the round of 128. Stefano Napolitano has yet to play his round of 64 clash and has a good chance of advancing into the round of 32.
Francesco Passaro and Luciano Darderi are the only Italian players so far who have made it into the round of 32. Matteo Arnaldi is the other player who has yet to play in the 64th round. Can the four locals keep the hope of the home fans alive? Or will they succumb to the competition like the WTA players? Let us know in the comments!
