1998 Italian Open (tennis)  The 1998 Italian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 57th edition of the Rome Masters and was part of the Super 9 of the 1998 ATP Tour and of Tier I of the 1998 WTA Tour. Both the men's and women's events took place at the Foro Italico in Rome in Italy. The women's tournament was played from May 4 through May 10, 1998, and the men's tournament was played from May 11 through May 17, 1998. Marcelo Ríos defeated Albert Costa by Walkover. Martina Hingis defeated Venus Williams, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3. Mahesh Bhupathi / Leander Paes defeated Ellis Ferreira / Rick Leach, 6–4, 4–6, 7–6. Virginia Ruano Pascual / Paola Suárez defeated Amanda Coetzer / Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, 7–6(7–1), 6–4.