Italian Open tennis tournament could be expanded
The Italian Open men's tournament next month could be expanded from 64 to 96 players and have three more days of matches as tennis officials scramble to rewrite their schedule amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The ATP Tour approached Rome organizers with an expansion proposal and offered to cover the extra prize money that would be required, Italian Tennis Federation president Angelo Binaghi said Wednesday.
The proposal comes a day after the Madrid Open in September was canceled because of a new spike in COVID-19 cases in Spain.
"We'll discuss it following the next government decree," Binaghi said.
"If we are given the chance to open the tournament to fans then it's a possibility we want to take advantage of. Otherwise, with only more costs, we won't be able to sustain it.
"It's a big chance to show the world how well we can organize a big tournament," Binaghi added. "The fact that Madrid is no longer being played opens a big door for us."
The Rome event was postponed from May and rescheduled for Sept. 20-27. It's slated to be the main warmup event for the postponed French Open, which has been rescheduled for Sept. 27-Oct. 11.
The expansion proposal so far does not include the WTA Tour, meaning the women's Italian Open would remain a 64-player draw played alongside the men's event.
Last month, the Italian government's technical and scientific committee for the coronavirus reportedly rejected the tennis' federation proposal to have up to 17,000 fans daily at the Foro Italico -- and instead ordered the tournament to be held without fans.
Italy, the first Western country to be overwhelmed by the virus, has largely contained its spread with a severe initial lockdown, continued mask requirements indoors and social distancing measures. It continues to register some 200-300 new cases each day, many of them imported by returning workers or migrants.
Rome is now scheduled to be the next big tournament after the Aug. 31-Sept. 13 U.S. Open.
But anyone coming to Italy from the U.S. is currently being ordered to quarantine for two weeks — unless coming for a quick work trip.
"We've put in a request with the sports minister asking that players coming from the United States are not ordered to quarantine," Binaghi said.
The professional tennis tours had been on hiatus since March because of the COVID-19 outbreak, with play resuming for women in Palermo, Sicily, this week.
Last year's Italian Open was won by Rafael Nadal and Karolína Plíšková.
Errani showing signs of claycourt revival in Palermo
Former French Open finalist Sara Errani showed signs of reviving her clay-court prowess by rallying past Kristýna Plíšková 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 Wednesday to reach the Palermo Ladies Open quarterfinals.
It was the second consecutive three-set win for Errani, who received a wild-card entry for the first tour-level tournament -- for men or women -- following a five-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Errani will next face rising French player Fiona Ferro, who beat eighth-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5, 6-2.
Also, qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich eased past Jasmine Paolini 6-0, 6-2 for her fifth win in five days; and 19-year-old Italian wild-card entry Elisabetta Cocciaretto eliminated sixth-seeded Donna Vekić 6-2, 64.
Players and officials for the tournament are being tested every four days for COVID-19 and one player who tested positive withdrew over the weekend. New protocols include fewer ball kids, a limited number of fans and no post-match handshakes between opponents.
Errani, who lost the 2012 French Open final to Maria Sharapova, had struggled to regain her form after serving a two-month ban in 2017 due to an anti-doping violation. Her ranking is down from a careerhigh of No. 5 in 2013 to No. 169.
"I'm a bit calmer now and I'm able to impose my game better," Errani said. "I'm more into the matches -- not more focused, but I know more of what I need to do."
Palermo brings back good memories for Errani, who won the Sicilian tournament twice and also finished runner-up twice -- to go with three titles in the doubles event.
It was Errani's 180th career win on clay -- more than any other active player.