The 1996 Italian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 53rd edition of the Italian Open and was part of the Mercedes Super 9 of the 1996 ATP Tour and of Tier I of the 1996 WTA Tour. Both the men's and women's events took place at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. The women's tournament was played from 6 May through 12 May 1996, while the men's tournament was played from 13 May through 19 May 1996.
| 1996 Italian Open | |
|---|---|
| Date | 6–12 May (women) 13–19 May (men) |
| Edition | 53rd |
| Prize money | $1,950,000 (men) $926,250 (women) |
| Surface | Clay / outdoor |
| Location | Rome, Italy |
| Venue | Foro Italico |
| Champions | |
| Men's singles | |
 Thomas Muster[1] | |
| Women's singles | |
 Conchita Martínez | |
| Men's doubles | |
 Byron Black /  Grant Connell[2] | |
| Women's doubles | |
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario /  Irina Spîrlea | |
The men's tournament was headlined by ATP No. 2 and defending champion Thomas Muster, Goran Ivanišević and Yevgeny Kafelnikov. The women's field was led by WTA No. 1 Steffi Graf, defending champion Conchita Martínez and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario.
First-seeded Thomas Muster and second-seeded Conchita Martínez won the singles titles. It was Muster's third title at the event, having also won in 1990 and 1995. It was Martínez's fourth title at the event, having also won in 1993, 1994 and 1995.[3]
Finals
editMen's singles
edit Thomas Muster defeated 
Richard Krajicek 6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3
- It was Muster's 5th singles title of the year and the 40th of his career.
Women's singles
edit Conchita Martínez defeated 
Martina Hingis 6–2, 6–3
- It was Martinez's 1st singles title of the year and her 27th of her career.
Men's doubles
edit Byron Black / Grant Connell defeated 
Libor Pimek / 
Byron Talbot 6–2, 6–3
- It was Black's 3rd title of the year and the 15th of his career. It was Connell's 2nd title of the year and the 19th of his career.
Women's doubles
edit Arantxa Sánchez Vicario / Irina Spîrlea defeated 
Gigi Fernández / Martina Hingis 6–4, 3–6, 6–3
- It was Sánchez Vicario's 8th title of the year and the 70th of her career. It was Spîrlea's 2nd title of the year and the 6th of her career.
References
edit- ^ "1996 Rome – Men's singles draw". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
- ^ "1996 Rome – Men's doubles draw". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
- ^ John Barrett, ed. (1997). International Tennis Federation World of Tennis 1997. London: CollinsWillow. pp. 130, 141, 168, 178. ISBN 9780002187145.