In front of a raucous home crowd at the Foro Italico, Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori etched their names into tennis history on Sunday, becoming the first Italian duo to win the Internazionali BNL d’Italia doubles title in the Open Era.
The seventh-seeded Italians battled past second seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 7-6(8), 6-7(3), 10-3 in a high-octane, two-hour-and-19-minute final that showcased skill, resilience, and sheer crowd-pleasing drama.
Bolelli and Vavassori saved four set points in a tense first set, rallying from 3-5 down to snatch the tiebreak. Though the experienced Spanish-Argentine pair clawed back the second set, the Italians exploded in the match tiebreak, firing winners and producing stunning defense to close out a 10-3 victory.“It is an amazing feeling,” Bolelli said after the win. “To be the winner of our hometown tournament is a dream come true. We are very happy.”The victory caps a remarkable 2026 season for the Italian pair. They have now won two ATP Masters 1000 titles this year (Miami and Rome) and also lifted the Rotterdam ATP 500 trophy. Their record in match tiebreaks this season stands at an astonishing 13-1, underlining their clutch mentality in decisive moments.
Vavassori, visibly emotional, dropped to the clay before embracing his partner. “I think we played one of the best matches we have ever played against one of the strongest teams of the last year,” he said. “I am really proud of my partner and what we have been through.”The win propels Bolelli and Vavassori to No. 3 in the PIF ATP Doubles Teams Rankings. For Granollers and Zeballos, it was a missed opportunity to join an elite group — they were aiming to become just the third team in the Open Era to win three Rome titles.
Later on Sunday, all eyes turn to Campo Centrale where Jannik Sinner will attempt to complete a historic Italian double against Casper Ruud in the singles final. Bolelli and Vavassori made their allegiance clear: “We are going to cheer for Jannik. But I think he is in good shape, so he has a good chance to win.”For Italian tennis, this unforgettable afternoon in Rome feels like the start of something special.
