Italian Open organizers promise a retractable roof over the tennis court by 2026
The rain cover is removed form the central court prior to the start of the final match between Denmark's Holger Rune and Russia's Daniil Medvedev at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, Sunday, May 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Gregorio Borgia]
ROME (AP) — Italian Open organizers have promised to install a retractable roof over the tennis court by 2026. The announcement comes at the conclusion of one of the tournament’s wettest editions. The CEO of the Italian government agency Sport e Salute Vito Cozzoli says “the roof is coming.” He adds that “the feasibility plan has been approved and it will be a futuristic project that will make the Foro Italico’s center court usable year round.” The semifinal on Saturday between Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas was suspended due to rain for a total of nearly 4 ½ hours. That pushed the start of the women’s final back to nearly 11 p.m.
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Spectators wait holding umbrella under heavy rain during a semi final match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, Saturday, May 20, 2023. Match has been suspended. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Alessandra Tarantino
Rain cover is removed form the central court prior to the start of the final match between Denmark's Holger Rune and Russia's Daniil Medvedev at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, Sunday, May 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Gregorio Borgia