According to Vedant Chandel of sportskeeda.com on Monday, two of tennis’s finest will miss the 2023 Italian Open. Spain’s Rafael Nadal is out with a hip injury and the Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova is out with a foot injury. Other absences include Italy’s own Matteo Berrettini (stomach muscle tear), Emma Raducanu (surgeries on her hand and ankle), and Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic (hip).
Nadal has not played since the Australian Open in January when he lost in the second round to Mackenzie McDonald of the United States, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5. Nadal has an unbelievable history in Rome, as he has won the Italian Open a record 10 times. The last time Nadal won in Rome came in 2021 when he beat Novak Djokovic of Serbia, 7-5, 1-6, 6-3. Despite the hip ailment, there is a growing belief that Nadal will return to the French Open, which he has won a record 14 times.
Kvitova has won 30 WTA career events including five on clay. She lost in the second round of the 2023 Madrid Open to Julie Niemeier of Germany 7-6. 6-1 on April 27 in her final match before the foot ailment.
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A new feature of the 2023 Italian Open is the extra round. The event is now in sync with Indian Wells, Miami and Madrid. Unseeded players will now have to win seven matches (just like a major title) to win the tournament. Seeded players on the singles side meanwhile will have to win six matches as they get a bye to round two.
This is the 80th Italian Open. The defending champions are Djokovic and Iga Swiatek of Poland.
