The 2024 Italian Open will take place in Rome next week, and the top players on the circuit will compete.
Fourth globally Daniil Medvedev is the current men’s singles champion, and Elena Rybakina will want to defend her title in the women’s division. Rybakina’s exceptional play over the last two weeks has resulted in a championship run at the Stuttgart Open and a semifinal appearance at the 2024 Madrid Open.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, the reigning Monte-Carlo Masters champion, Andrey Rublev, and Casper Ruud are also expected to compete in the Italian Open. Notable absences from Rome will include Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, two of the top three players in the world. Due to a hip condition, Sinner has opted to retire from the race, and the Spaniard has been ruled out because of forearm issues.
Taking this into consideration, let us look at the five elite tour players that will miss the 2024 Rome Italian Open.
5) Simona Halep
The former world number one, Simona Halep, will not participate in the 2024 Italian Open in Rome next week. The Romanian had missed eighteen months of the women’s tour due to a doping sanction. She was defeated by Paula Badosa in the Miami Open’s first round when she returned in April.
Halep provided an update on her fitness before the Madrid Open, indicating that she will need more time to physically prepare for the battle at the highest level.
Halep’s name is not on the roster of the Italian Open. She defeated Czech sensation Karolina Pliskova in the championship match in 2020 to win the title and proceed to three straight Rome finals.
4) Andy Murray
World No. 57 Andy Murray has also been ruled out of the 2024 Italian Open.
Murray had a fantastic game last month to advance to the Miami Open third round. He defeated players like Matteo Berrettini and Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the first two rounds, but Tomas Machac proved too strong for him in a hard-fought three-set battle.
When the 36-year-old hurt his ankle playing Machac in the final set, it made his pain even worse. Murray hasn’t competed on the men’s circuit since, thus his readiness for the 2024 French Open is uncertain. His spokesperson gave a current status update on his situation.
The former World No. 1 has stated that she hopes to compete in the Olympics in Paris, France, in 2024.
Jannik Sinner, the home favorite, was forced to withdraw from the Italian Open.
Jannik Sinner, who is ranked second in the world, will also miss the Italian Open in 2024.
Sinner has been by far the most productive player on the men’s tour this year. In 2024, he won the Australian Open in Melbourne, the Miami Open, and the Rotterdam Open. So far, he has a 92% success rate.
The Italian advanced to the Madrid Open quarterfinals, where he was last observed competing. After pulling out of his match against Felix Auger-Aliassime a few hours earlier due to a hip problem, he decided to forego the Italian Open.
Sinner used social media to emotionally address his hometown fans after being unable to compete in Rome.
2) Jessica Pegula
Fifth-ranked Jessica Pegula has not been included to the Italian Open 2024 admissions list.
Pegula has won 14 of her 20 games this season, including semifinal appearances in Adelaide and Charleston, despite having a slow start to the campaign. Her final competition appearance came during the Billie Jean King Cup qualifications. Due to a minor neck problem, she was unable to participate in the Middle East hardcourt swing.
The American gave a health update prior to the Madrid Open and stated her goal to return to the women’s tour shortly.
Carlos Alcaraz first
The world’s third-ranked player and clay-court specialist, Carlos Alcaraz, has been forced to withdraw from the Italian Open.
Alcaraz advanced to the Madrid Open quarterfinals, where he was last observed competing. Despite his best efforts, he was defeated by Andrey Rublev in an intense three-set encounter, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The Spaniard has struggled with fitness since the beginning of the clay court season in Europe. Following his absences from the Barcelona Open and the Monte-Carlo Masters, he decided not to compete in the 2024 Italian Open in Rome.
Alcaraz gave a status update on his health on social media, blaming his withdrawal on arm pain.
