Tennis in Italy

Jannik Sinner is currently the top Italian player in the ATP rankings. Jasmine Paolini is currently the top Italian player in the WTA rankings.

Tennis in Italy is governed by the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation and in 2012 it was the 6th sport by number of practitioners, with 1,298,000 people.[1]

## History

[edit]

One Italian player, Jannik Sinner, has been men's singles world No. 1 (ATP ranking).

Five Italian players have won Grand Slam tournaments: Nicola Pietrangeli (1959 and 1960 French Championships), Adriano Panatta (1976 French Open), Francesca Schiavone (2010 French Open), Flavia Pennetta (2015 US Open) and Jannik Sinner (2024 Australian Open, 2024 US Open and 2025 Australian Open).

Four Italian players have won an olympic medal: Uberto De Morpurgo and Lorenzo Musetti won a bronze medal in the men's singles, respectively in 1924 and 2024, and the Sara Errani–Jasmine Paolini duo won a gold medal in the women's doubles, again in 2024.

The men's national team won the Davis Cup three times (1976, 2023 and 2024) and the women's national team won the Billie Jean King Cup five times (2006, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2024).

Women's tennis in particular has seen tremendous successes in the 21st century, with the advent of Francesca Schiavone, Sara Errani, Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci. All four of these women reached the top 10 of the WTA rankings in both singles and doubles (with Schiavone and Errani reaching the top 5 in singles and Pennetta, Errani and Vinci reaching No 1 in doubles), and reached Grand Slam finals in both disciplines. Schiavone and Pennetta won singles Grand Slam titles, while Pennetta, Errani and Vinci won doubles Grand Slam titles, with Errani and Vinci achieving the Career Grand Slam in doubles as a pair. They were also responsible for Italy's 4 Fed Cup victories as members of the national Fed Cup team.

## Players best singles ranking

[edit]

In this table only those who have reached the top 20 in the world singles ranking.

Active

Updated as of 26 May 2025. Data refer to the Open Era (from 1968).[2]

### Men

[edit]

# | Player | Rank  | Achieved | Grand Slam best | ATP titles

|
|
|
|
|

1  | Jannik Sinner | 1 | 10 June 2024  | Win – 2024 Australian Open, 2024 US Open, 2025 Australian Open | 19
2  | Adriano Panatta | 4 | 24 August 1976  | Win – 1976 French Open | 10
3  | Matteo Berrettini | 6 | 31 January 2022  | F – 2021 Wimbledon | 10
4  | Corrado Barazzutti | 7 | 21 August 1978  | SF – 1977 US Open, 1978 French Open | 5
4  | Lorenzo Musetti | 7 | 26 May 2025  | SF – 2024 Wimbledon, 2025 French Open | 2
6  | Fabio Fognini | 9 | 15 July 2019  | QF – 2011 French Open | 9
7  | Paolo Bertolucci | 12 | 23 August 1973  | QF – 1973 French Open | 6
8  | Marco Cecchinato | 16 | 25 February 2019  | SF – 2018 French Open | 3
9  | Andreas Seppi | 18 | 28 January 2013  | 4R – 2012 French Open, 2013 Wimbledon,
Australian Open (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018) | 3
Omar Camporese | 18 | 10 February 1992  | 4R – 1992 Australian Open | 3
Andrea Gaudenzi | 18 | 27 February 1995  | 4R – 1994 French Open | 2
12  | Renzo Furlan | 19 | 15 April 1996  | QF – 1995 French Open | 2

### Women

[edit]

# | Player | Rank  | Achieved | Grand Slam best | WTA titles

|
|
|
|
|

1  | Francesca Schiavone | 4 | 31 January 2011  | Win – 2010 French Open | 8
Jasmine Paolini | 4 | 28 October 2024  | F – 2024 French Open, 2024 Wimbledon | 3
3  | Sara Errani | 5 | 20 May 2013  | F – 2012 French Open | 9
4  | Flavia Pennetta | 6 | 28 September 2015  | Win – 2015 US Open | 11
5  | Roberta Vinci | 7 | 9 May 2016  | F – 2015 US Open | 10
6  | Silvia Farina | 11 | 20 May 2002  | QF – 2003 Wimbledon | 3
7  | Raffaella Reggi | 13 | 25 April 1988  | QF – 1987 French Open | 5
8  | Sandra Cecchini | 15 | 14 March 1988  | QF – 1985 French Open | 11
9  | Martina Trevisan | 18 | 8 May 2023  | SF – 2022 French Open | 1
10  | Tathiana Garbin | 22 | 21 May 2007  | 4R – 2007 French Open | 1

## Grand slam best results

[edit]

### Men's singles

[edit]

Eleven Italian tennis players played at least the semi-final in a Grand Slam tournament.[3]

Player | Tournament | Result

|
|

Umberto De Morpurgo | 1930 French Open | Semifinal
Giorgio De Stefani | 1932 French Open | Final
1934 French Open | Semifinal
Giuseppe Merlo | 1955 French Open | Semifinal
1956 French Open | Semifinal
Nicola Pietrangeli | 1959 French Open | Win
1960 French Open | Win
1961 French Open | Final
1964 French Open | Final
1960 Wimbledon Campionships | Semifinal
Orlando Sirola | 1960 French Open | Semifinal
Adriano Panatta | 1973 French Open | Semifinal
1975 French Open | Semifinal
1976 French Open | Win
Corrado Barazzutti | 1977 US Open | Semifinal
1978 French Open | Semifinal
Marco Cecchinato | 2018 French Open | Semifinal
Matteo Berrettini | 2019 US Open | Semifinal
2021 Wimbledon Championships | Final
2022 Australian Open | Semifinal
Jannik Sinner | 2023 Wimbledon Championships | Semifinal
2024 Australian Open | Win
2024 French Open | Semifinal
2024 US Open | Win
2025 Australian Open | Win
2025 French Open | Semifinal
Lorenzo Musetti | 2024 Wimbledon Championships | Semifinal
2025 French Open | Semifinal

### Men's doubles

[edit]

Eight Italian tennis players played at least the semi-final in a Grand Slam tournament.

Player | Tournament | Result

|
|

Umberto De Morpurgo | 1925 Wimbledon Championships | Semifinal
Nicola Pietrangeli | 1955 French Championships | Final
1956 Wimbledon Championships | Final
1957 Wimbledon Championships | Semifinal
1958 Wimbledon Championships | Semifinal
1959 French Championships | Win
1959 Wimbledon Championships | Semifinal
Orlando Sirola | 1955 French Championships | Final
1956 Wimbledon Championships | Final
1957 Wimbledon Championships | Semifinal
1958 Wimbledon Championships | Semifinal
1959 French Championships | Win
1959 Wimbledon Championships | Semifinal
Simone Bolelli | 2011 US Open | Semifinal
2013 Australian Open | Semifinal
2015 Australian Open | Win
2015 French Open | Semifinal
2021 Wimbledon Championships | Semifinal
2024 Australian Open | Final
2024 French Open | Final
2025 Australian Open | Final
Fabio Fognini | 2011 US Open | Semifinal
2013 Australian Open | Semifinal
2015 Australian Open | Win
2015 French Open | Semifinal
Daniele Bracciali | 2012 French Open | Semifinal
Potito Starace | 2012 French Open | Semifinal
Andrea Vavassori | 2024 Australian Open | Final
2024 French Open | Final
2025 Australian Open | Final

### Women's singles

[edit]

Flavia Pennetta, last Italian female winner of a Grand Slam tournament, in 2015.

Nine Italian female tennis players have reached at least the semifinals of a Grand Slam singles tournament.[4][5]

Player | Tournament | Result

|
|

Maud Rosenbaum Levi | 1930 U. S. National Championships | Semifinal
Annalisa Ullstein Bossi Bellani | 1949 French International Championships | Semifinal
Silvana Lazzarino | 1954 French International Championships | Semifinal
Francesca Schiavone | 2010 French Open | Win
2011 French Open | Final
Sara Errani | 2012 French Open | Final
2012 US Open | Semifinal
2013 French Open | Semifinal
Flavia Pennetta | 2013 US Open | Semifinal
2015 US Open | Win
Roberta Vinci | 2015 US Open | Final
Martina Trevisan | 2022 French Open | Semifinal
Jasmine Paolini | 2024 French Open | Final
2024 Wimbledon Championships | Final

### Women's doubles

[edit]

Nine Italian tennis players played at least the semi-final in a Grand Slam tournament.

Player | Tournament | Result

|
|

Anna Maria Nasuelli | 1974 French Open | Semifinal
Sabina Simmonds | 1978 Australian Open | Semifinal
Daniela Marzano | 1978 French Open | Semifinal
Sandra Cecchini | 1993 French Open | Semifinal
Roberta Vinci | 2001 US Open | Semifinal
2004 French Open | Semifinal
2012 Australian Open | Final
2012 French Open | Win
2012 US Open | Win
2013 Australian Open | Win
2013 French Open | Final
2014 Australian Open | Win
2014 French Open | Final
2014 Wimbledon Championships | Win
Flavia Pennetta | 2005 US Open | Final
2010 Wimbledon Championships | Semifinal
2011 Australian Open | Win
2012 Wimbledon Championships | Semifinal
2014 US Open | Final
2015 US Open | Semifinal
Francesca Schiavone | 2006 US Open | Semifinal
2008 French Open | Final
2009 Australian Open | Semifinal
2012 Wimbledon Championships | Semifinal
Mara Santangelo | 2007 French Open | Win
2007 Wimbledon Championships | Semifinal
2009 Australian Open | Semifinal
Sara Errani | 2012 Australian Open | Final
2012 French Open | Win
2012 US Open | Win
2013 Australian Open | Win
2013 French Open | Final
2014 Australian Open | Win
2014 French Open | Final
2014 Wimbledon Championships | Win
2024 French Open | Final
Jasmine Paolini | 2024 French Open | Final

## All tournament winners in Open Era

[edit]

### Men's singles

[edit]

As of 24 May 2025, 102 tournaments have been won by 29 Italian tennis players in the major circuit.

Still active

| Titles | Players

|

19  | Jannik Sinner
10  | Matteo Berrettini
Adriano Panatta
9  | Fabio Fognini
6  | Paolo Bertolucci
5  | Corrado Barazzutti
4  | Lorenzo Sonego
3  | Paolo Canè
Marco Cecchinato
Andrea Gaudenzi
Andreas Seppi
| Titles | Players

|

2  | Omar Camporese
Francesco Cancellotti
Flavio Cobolli
Luciano Darderi
Renzo Furlan
Lorenzo Musetti
Stefano Pescosolido
Davide Sanguinetti
Filippo Volandri
| Titles | Players

|

1  | Daniele Bracciali
Simone Colombo
Paolo Lorenzi
Massimiliano Narducci
Gianni Ocleppo
Claudio Panatta
Claudio Pistolesi
Gianluca Pozzi
Tonino Zugarelli

### Men's doubles

[edit]

As of 24 May 2025, 88 tournaments have been won by 36 Italian tennis players in the major circuit.

Still active

| Titles | Players

|

18  | Adriano Panatta
17  | Simone Bolelli
12  | Paolo Bertolucci
9  | Andrea Vavassori
8  | Fabio Fognini
6  | Daniele Bracciali
Claudio Panatta
Potito Starace
5  | Omar Camporese
Simone Colombo
Diego Nargiso
3  | Paolo Canè
2  | Enzo Artoni
Matteo Berrettini
Massimo Bertolini
Cristian Brandi
Andrea Gaudenzi
Gianni Ocleppo
Lorenzo Sonego
| Titles | Players

|

1  | Corrado Barazzutti
Flavio Cipolla
Giorgio Galimberti
Paolo Lorenzi
Gianni Marchetti
Filippo Messori
Federico Mordegan
Andrea Pellegrino
Stefano Pescosolido
Gianluca Pozzi
Davide Sanguinetti
Vincenzo Santopadre
Andreas Seppi
Jannik Sinner
Laurence Tieleman
Enzo Vattuone
Tonino Zugarelli

### Women's singles

[edit]

As of 17 May 2025, 79 tournaments have been won by 21 Italian tennis players in the major circuit.

Still active

| Titles | Players

|

11  | Sandra Cecchini
Flavia Pennetta
10  | Roberta Vinci
9  | Sara Errani
8  | Francesca Schiavone
5  | Raffaella Reggi
4  | Camila Giorgi
3  | Silvia Farina Elia
Rita Grande
Jasmine Paolini
2  | Karin Knapp
| Titles | Players

|

1  | Lucia Bronzetti
Federica Bonsignori
Alberta Brianti
Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Tathiana Garbin
Marzia Grossi
Katia Piccolini
Gloria Pizzichini
Mara Santangelo
Martina Trevisan

### Women's doubles

[edit]

As of 18 May 2025, 127 tournaments have been won by 21 Italian tennis players in the major circuit.

Still active

| Titles | Players

|

34  | Sara Errani
25  | Roberta Vinci
17  | Flavia Pennetta
11  | Sandra Cecchini
Tathiana Garbin
9  | Silvia Farina Elia
Mara Santangelo
8  | Jasmine Paolini
7  | Francesca Schiavone
6  | Laura Golarsa
| Titles | Players

|

5  | Laura Garrone
Rita Grande
4  | Raffaella Reggi
3  | Maria Elena Camerin
Giulia Casoni
Adriana Serra Zanetti
2  | Alberta Brianti
Antonella Serra Zanetti
1  | Linda Ferrando
Lea Pericoli
Emily Stellato

## Italian wins against the Current World's Number 1

[edit]

### Male

[edit]

Nine Italian tennis players managed to beat the current number 1 in the world.

# | Date | Player | Tournament | Tier  | Surface | Current World's N.1 | Score

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | 17 May 1974 | Corrado Barazzutti | Munich, West Germany | 250 series | Clay |  Ilie Năstase | 6–3, 6–7, 6–1
2  | 9 November 1975 | Adriano Panatta | Stockholm, Sweden | Masters 1000 | Carpet |  Jimmy Connors | 4–6, 6–3, 7–5
3  | 18 April 1977 | Adriano Panatta | Houston, United States | 250 series | Clay |  Jimmy Connors | 6–1, 7–5
4  | 15 June 2000 | Gianluca Pozzi | Queen's, Great Britain | 250 series | Grass |  Andre Agassi | 4–6, 3–2 ret.
5  | 10 May 2007 | Filippo Volandri | Rome, Italy | Masters 1000 | Clay |  Roger Federer | 6–3, 6–4
6  | 16 May 2017 | Fabio Fognini | Rome, Italy | Masters 1000 | Clay |  Andy Murray | 6–2, 6–4
7  | 30 October 2020 | Lorenzo Sonego | Vienna, Austria | 500 series | Hard (i) |  Novak Djokovic | 6–2, 6–1
8  | 31 March 2023 | Jannik Sinner | Miami, United States | Masters 1000 | Hard |  Carlos Alcaraz | 6–7(4–7), 6–4, 6–2
9  | 13 April 2023 | Lorenzo Musetti | Monte-Carlo, Monaco | Masters 1000 | Clay |  Novak Djokovic | 4–6, 7–5, 6–4
10  | 14 November 2023 | Jannik Sinner | Turin, Italy | ATP Finals | Hard (i) |  Novak Djokovic | 7–5, 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–2)
11  | 25 November 2023 | Jannik Sinner | Malaga, Spain | Davis Cup | Hard (i) |  Novak Djokovic | 6–2, 2–6, 7–5
12  | 26 January 2024 | Jannik Sinner | Melbourne, Australia | Grand Slam | Hard |  Novak Djokovic | 6–1, 6–2, 6–7(6–8), 6–3
13  | 11 March 2024 | Luca Nardi | Indian Wells, United States | Masters 1000 | Hard |  Novak Djokovic | 6–4, 3–6, 6–3

### Female

[edit]

Four Italian tennis players managed to beat the current number 1 in the world.

# | Date | Player | Tournament | Tier  | Surface | Current World's N.1 | Score

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | 26 May 2004 | Tathiana Garbin | Paris, France | Grand Slam | Clay |  Justine Henin | 7–5, 6–4
2  | 23 April 2006 | Francesca Schiavone | Nancy, France | Billie Jean King Cup | Clay |  Amélie Mauresmo | 4–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–4
3  | 28 February 2008 | Francesca Schiavone | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Tier II Series | Hard |  Justine Henin | 7–6(7–3), 7–6(7–4)
4  | 16 October 2008 | Flavia Pennetta | Zurich, Switzerland | Tier II Series | Hard (i) |  Jelena Janković | 5–7, 6–3, 6–3
5  | 10 August 2011 | Roberta Vinci | Toronto, Canada | Premier 5 | Hard |  Caroline Wozniacki | 6–4, 7–5
6  | 7 October 2011 | Flavia Pennetta | Beijing, China | Premier Mandatory | Hard (i) |  Caroline Wozniacki | 3–6, 6–0, 7–6(7–2)
7  | 11 September 2015 | Roberta Vinci | New York, United States | Grand Slam | Hard |  Serena Williams | 2–6, 6–4, 6–4

## All-Italian finals in Open Era

[edit]

### Male

[edit]

There were seven all-Italian finals in Open Era in the ATP Tour.[6]

#  |  Date | Tournament | Venue  | Tier  | Surface  | Winner  | Runner-up  | Result

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | May 1974 | Florence Open |  Florence | C events  | Clay  | Adriano Panatta | Paolo Bertolucci | 6–4, 6–1
2  | July 1976 | Swedish Open |  Båstad | Three-star events  | Clay  | Tonino Zugarelli | Corrado Barazzutti | 4–6, 7–5, 6–2
3  | March 1980 | Cairo Open |  Cairo | Grand Prix  | Clay  | Corrado Barazzutti | Paolo Bertolucci | 4–6, 7–5, 6–2
4  | April 1987 | Hypo Group Tennis International |  Bari | Grand Prix  | Clay  | Claudio Pistolesi | Francesco Cancellotti | 6–7, 7–5, 6–3
5  | May 1988 | Florence Open |  Florence | Grand Prix  | Clay  | Massimiliano Narducci | Claudio Panatta | 3–6. 6–1, 6–4
6  | Feb 2021 | Great Ocean Road Open |  Melbourne | 250 Series  | Hard  | Jannik Sinner | Stefano Travaglia | 7–6(7–4), 6–4
7  | Oct 2022 | Tennis Napoli Cup |  Naples | 250 Series  | Hard  | Lorenzo Musetti | Matteo Berrettini | 7–6(7–5), 6–2

### Female

[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2021)

|

#  |  Date | Tournament | Venue  | Tier  | Surface  | Winner  | Runner-up  | Result

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | May 1985 | Spanish Open |  Barcelona | WTA $50,000  | Clay  | Sandra Cecchini | Raffaella Reggi | 6–3, 6–4
2  | July 1990 | Estoril Open |  Oeiras | WTA Tier V  | Clay  | Federica Bonsignori | Laura Garrone | 2–6, 6–3, 6–3
3  | July 1991 | San Marino Open |  City of San Marino | WTA Tier V  | Clay  | Katia Piccolini | Silvia Farina | 6–2, 6–3
4  | March 2003 | Morocco Open |  Casablanca | WTA Tier V  | Clay  | Rita Grande | Antonella Serra Zanetti | 6–2, 4–6, 6–1
5  | February 2007 | Copa Colsanitas |  Bogotá | WTA Tier III  | Clay  | Roberta Vinci | Tathiana Garbin | 6–7(5–7), 6–4, 0–3 ret.
6  | July 2009 | Internazionali Femminili di Palermo |  Palermo | WTA International  | Clay  | Flavia Pennetta | Sara Errani | 6–1, 6–2
7  | April 2010 | Barcelona Ladies Open |  Barcelona | WTA International  | Clay  | Francesca Schiavone | Roberta Vinci | 6–1, 6–1
8  | February 2012 | Abierto Mexicano Telcel |  Acapulco | WTA International  | Clay  | Sara Errani | Flavia Pennetta | 5–7, 7–6(7–2), 6–0
9  | July 2013 | Internazionali Femminili di Palermo |  Palermo | WTA International  | Clay  | Roberta Vinci | Sara Errani | 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
10  | May 2015 | Nürnberger Cup |  Nürnberg | WTA International  | Clay  | Karin Knapp | Roberta Vinci | 7–6(7–5), 4–6, 6–1
11  | September 2015 | US Open |  New York City | Grand Slam  | Hard  | Flavia Pennetta | Roberta Vinci | 7-6, 6-2

## Most important Italian events

[edit]

Most important periodic tournament in Italy is the clay court, ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 Internazionali d'Italia event, held in Rome, Foro Italico.

Moreover Italy hosted several times ATP finals, Davis Cup and Next Gen ATP Finals.

## See also

[edit]

* ATP Tour records
* Sport in Italy
* Italy Davis Cup team
* Italy Billie Jean King Cup team
* Italian Tennis and Padel Federation

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Graduatoria degli sport più praticati in Italia" (PDF) (in Italian). coni.it. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
2. ^ "QUANTI ITALIANI SONO ENTRATI NEI TOP 50? RISPONDE L'ESPERTO" (in Italian). supertennis.tv. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
3. ^ "Marco Cecchinato è l'ottavo giocatore nella storia del tennis italiano ad approdare in una semifinale Slam" (in Italian). superlivetennis.it. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
4. ^ "I migliori risultati delle azzurre nei tornei dello Slam". federtennis.it (in Italian). Retrieved 6 June 2018.
5. ^ "VINCI-PENNETTA Tutti i numeri di un'impresa". federtennis.it (in Italian). Retrieved 6 June 2018.
6. ^ "ATP: SINNER-TRAVAGLIA, SETTIMO DERBY AZZURRO IN FINALE. I PRECEDENTI" (in Italian). federtennis.it. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Italian Tennis Federation official site

* v
* t
* e

Sport in Italy

* Association football
* Athletics
* Baseball
* Rugby union
* Tennis

Scudetto

* Italy at Olympics
* Paralympics
* World Games
* Team sport

* v
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Tennis in Europe

Sovereign states|

* Albania
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* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
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* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
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*   * Italy
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States with limited
recognition|

* Abkhazia
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* South Ossetia
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Dependencies and
other entities|

* Åland
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