Álex Corretja defeated Marcelo Ríos in the final, 7–5, 7–5, 6–3 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1997 Italian Open.

Thomas Muster was the defending champion, but lost in the second round to Scott Draper.

Seeds
United States Pete Sampras (first round)
United States Michael Chang (first round)
Austria Thomas Muster (second round)
Russia Yevgeny Kafelnikov (third round)
Netherlands Richard Krajicek (second round)
Croatia Goran Ivanišević (semifinals)
Chile Marcelo Ríos (final)
Spain Carlos Moyà (third round)
South Africa Wayne Ferreira (first round)
Spain Álex Corretja (champion)
Spain Álbert Costa (third round)
Germany Boris Becker (third round)
Spain Félix Mantilla (first round)
United Kingdom Tim Henman (second round)
Switzerland Marc Rosset (third round)
Australia Mark Philippoussis (first round)
List all the competitors in the 1997 Italian Open for Mens Singles
Pete Sampras (first round)
Michael Chang (first round)
Thomas Muster (second round)
Yevgeny Kafelnikov (third round)
Richard Krajicek (second round)
Goran Ivanišević (semifinals)
Marcelo Ríos (final)
Carlos Moyà (third round)
Wayne Ferreira (first round)
Álex Corretja (champion)
Álbert Costa (third round)
Boris Becker (third round)
Félix Mantilla (first round)
Tim Henman (second round)
Marc Rosset (third round)
Mark Philippoussis (first round)