Spoiler:
Italian chasing fifth Masters 1000 title
May 16, 2025
Jannik Sinner has won his past 26 matches, dating back to Beijing last October.
Getty Images
Jannik Sinner has won his past 26 matches, dating back to Beijing last October.
By Sam Jacot
Jannik Sinner survived a slow start and a major scare on Friday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, where he rallied past Tommy Paul 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 to set a final meeting with Carlos Alcaraz on his return to Tour in Rome.
Just 24 hours after dismantling Casper Ruud 6-0, 6-1 in the quarter-finals, Sinner looked surprisingly out of sync in the opening set against Paul. The Italian could not breech the defences of the American, who forced the World No. 1 into uncharacteristic errors with his depth, silencing the Italian crowd inside Campo Centrale.
But champions don’t fade, they fight. And Sinner, riding a 25-match winning streak, wasn’t about to back down. Digging deep, the 23-year-old tightened up his game, cut down the errors, and began stepping inside the baseline to dictate the rallies. With the momentum shifting, the Roman air filled with energy as chants of “Olé, Olé, Olé, Sinner!” echoed through the stands.
"I just tried to stay there mentally," Sinner said. "Today the conditions were different. It was much colder, heavier. I struggled with that a little bit and he broke me straight away. I tried to stay there, mentally what might work better. I stayed there in the first set. Winning the one game was very important. Tennis can change quickly... Today I showed that every moment is crucial and I am very happy about that and very happy to be in the final."
Feeding off the electric atmosphere, Sinner prevailed in a rollercoaster set in the decider. From 3-0, Sinner was pegged back to 3-2 but broke Paul's serve again and did not look back, completing a stirring comeback after one hour and 44 minutes to send the home fans into a frenzy.
"Since the third round I have had a small blister under my foot," Sinner said on his slight movement issues in the closing stages. "It doesn't allow me that well to move in some moments. Today I felt it more than yesterday. And with the leg I am not concerned, it was just a bit tight, that is normal. I have to take care of this blister but there is no excuses. With the adrenaline there will be a lot of energy and for Sunday I am 100 per cent not concerned."
With his 26th consecutive win, Sinner set a Sunday final meeting with Alcaraz, who earlier defeated Italian Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets. The 23-year-old, who is playing his first tournament since winning January’s Australian Open, is bidding to become just the second Italian men’s singles champion in Rome after Adriano Panatta triumphed in 1976.
Sinner trails Alcaraz 4-6 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series with this their first meeting in 2025. On clay they are level at 1-1. Sinner defeated the 22-year-old in the Umag final in 2022 and Alcaraz then overcame the Italian in the Roland Garros semi-final last year.
"If I want to win Sunday I need to play my best tennis for sure," Sinner said. "Carlos played some incredible tennis today, so let's see what is coming. From my side, it is incredible to be in the final."
Sinner, who like Alcaraz will compete in his 25th tour-level final on Sunday, is chasing his fifth ATP Masters 1000 title and first on clay.
Barring the first set against Paul, the No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings has shown little sign of rustiness through his five matches in the Italian capital on his return to Tour. Sinner has moved well and showed his peak level in his 6-0, 6-1 win against Madrid champion Ruud in the quarter-finals.
Paul was competing in his fourth Masters 1000 semi-final and chasing his maiden final. The American earned his first Top 20 win of the season against Tomas Machac in the third round and backed that up with victory against World No. 8 Alex de Minaur in the fourth round.
May 16, 2025
Jannik Sinner has won his past 26 matches, dating back to Beijing last October.
Getty Images
Jannik Sinner has won his past 26 matches, dating back to Beijing last October.
By Sam Jacot
Jannik Sinner survived a slow start and a major scare on Friday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, where he rallied past Tommy Paul 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 to set a final meeting with Carlos Alcaraz on his return to Tour in Rome.
Just 24 hours after dismantling Casper Ruud 6-0, 6-1 in the quarter-finals, Sinner looked surprisingly out of sync in the opening set against Paul. The Italian could not breech the defences of the American, who forced the World No. 1 into uncharacteristic errors with his depth, silencing the Italian crowd inside Campo Centrale.
But champions don’t fade, they fight. And Sinner, riding a 25-match winning streak, wasn’t about to back down. Digging deep, the 23-year-old tightened up his game, cut down the errors, and began stepping inside the baseline to dictate the rallies. With the momentum shifting, the Roman air filled with energy as chants of “Olé, Olé, Olé, Sinner!” echoed through the stands.
"I just tried to stay there mentally," Sinner said. "Today the conditions were different. It was much colder, heavier. I struggled with that a little bit and he broke me straight away. I tried to stay there, mentally what might work better. I stayed there in the first set. Winning the one game was very important. Tennis can change quickly... Today I showed that every moment is crucial and I am very happy about that and very happy to be in the final."
Feeding off the electric atmosphere, Sinner prevailed in a rollercoaster set in the decider. From 3-0, Sinner was pegged back to 3-2 but broke Paul's serve again and did not look back, completing a stirring comeback after one hour and 44 minutes to send the home fans into a frenzy.
"Since the third round I have had a small blister under my foot," Sinner said on his slight movement issues in the closing stages. "It doesn't allow me that well to move in some moments. Today I felt it more than yesterday. And with the leg I am not concerned, it was just a bit tight, that is normal. I have to take care of this blister but there is no excuses. With the adrenaline there will be a lot of energy and for Sunday I am 100 per cent not concerned."
With his 26th consecutive win, Sinner set a Sunday final meeting with Alcaraz, who earlier defeated Italian Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets. The 23-year-old, who is playing his first tournament since winning January’s Australian Open, is bidding to become just the second Italian men’s singles champion in Rome after Adriano Panatta triumphed in 1976.
Sinner trails Alcaraz 4-6 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series with this their first meeting in 2025. On clay they are level at 1-1. Sinner defeated the 22-year-old in the Umag final in 2022 and Alcaraz then overcame the Italian in the Roland Garros semi-final last year.
"If I want to win Sunday I need to play my best tennis for sure," Sinner said. "Carlos played some incredible tennis today, so let's see what is coming. From my side, it is incredible to be in the final."
Sinner, who like Alcaraz will compete in his 25th tour-level final on Sunday, is chasing his fifth ATP Masters 1000 title and first on clay.
Barring the first set against Paul, the No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings has shown little sign of rustiness through his five matches in the Italian capital on his return to Tour. Sinner has moved well and showed his peak level in his 6-0, 6-1 win against Madrid champion Ruud in the quarter-finals.
Paul was competing in his fourth Masters 1000 semi-final and chasing his maiden final. The American earned his first Top 20 win of the season against Tomas Machac in the third round and backed that up with victory against World No. 8 Alex de Minaur in the fourth round.
