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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.

Italian is unbeaten since 2 October 2024
May 16, 2025
Jannik Sinner has won three titles since last October.
Getty Images
Jannik Sinner has won three titles since last October.
By ATP Staff
The last time Jannik Sinner walked off court on the losing end was on 2nd October against Carlos Alcaraz in the final of ATP 500 event in Beijing. Since then, the Italian has become an unstoppable force, entering Sunday’s final showdown with Alcaraz at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on a 26-match winning streak, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

During that stretch, the 23-year-old has captured his third major at the Australian Open, triumphed at the Nitto ATP Finals, won his fourth Masters 1000 crown in Shanghai and guided Italy to Davis Cup glory.

Sinner is now tied with Andre Agassi for the seventh-longest winning streak since 1990 and will look to surpass the American with a victory in what will be his 11th Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting against Alcaraz.

Ahead of that clash, ATPTour.com revisits Sinner’s 26 consecutive wins.

Longest winning streak by player* since 1990

Player Wins Titles/Year
Novak Djokovic 43 7, 2010-11
Roger Federer 41 7, 2006-07
Thomas Muster 35 6, 1995
Rafael Nadal 32 5, 2008
Pete Sampras 29 5, 1994
Andy Murray 28 5, 2016-17
Andre Agassi 26 4, 1995
Jannik Sinner 26* 3, 2024-25
*only longest career winning streak by each player included

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1. Shanghai: Taro Daniel, 6-1, 6-4

2. Shanghai: Tomas Martin Etcheverry, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2

3. Shanghai: Ben Shelton, 6-4, 7-6(1)

4. Shanghai: Daniil Medvedev: 6-1, 6-4

5. Shanghai: Tomas Machac, 6-4, 7-5

6. Shanghai: Novak Djokovic, 7-6(4), 6-3



7. Nitto ATP Finals: Alex de Minaur, 6-3, 6-4

8. Nitto ATP Finals: Taylor Fritz, 6-4, 6-4

9. Nitto ATP Finals: Daniil Medvedev, 6-3, 6-4

10. Nitto ATP Finals: Casper Ruud, 6-1, 6-2

11. Nitto ATP Finals: Taylor Fritz, 6-4, 6-4



12. Davis Cup Finals: Sebastian Baez, 6-2, 6-1

13. Davis Cup Finals: Alex de Minaur, 6-3, 6-4

14. Davis Cup Finals: Tallon Griekspoor, 7-6(2), 6-2

It All Adds Up

15. Australian Open: Nicolas Jarry, 7-6(2), 7-6(5), 6-1

16. Australian Open: Tristan Schoolkate, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3

17. Australian Open: Marcos Giron, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2

18. Australian Open: Holger Rune, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2

19. Australian Open: Alex de Minaur, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1

20. Australian Open: Ben Shelton, 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2

21. Australian Open: Alexander Zverev, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3

22. Rome: Mariano Navone, 6-3, 6-4



23. Rome: Jesper de Jong, 6-4, 6-2

24. Rome: Francisco Cerundolo, 7-6(2), 6-3

25. Rome: Casper Ruud, 6-0, 6-1

26: Rome: Tommy Paul, 1-6, 6-0, 6-3

Italian ATP Masters 1000 underwent renovations ahead of 57th edition
May 17, 2025
The Foro Italico is the venue for the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome.
Peter Staples/ATP Tour
The Foro Italico is the venue for the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome.
By Jerome Coombe
When you step through the gates at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, the atmosphere is unmistakable. Italian tennis is thriving — and you can feel it.

The marble statues that line the Foro Italico may recall Rome’s ancient past, but the energy coursing through the venue is undeniably modern. It’s not just about loyal fans packing the stands, but about a homegrown tennis boom, and right now, it’s alive and well in the Italian capital.

“We are Jannik’s girls,” one lady told ATPTour.com, wearing an iconic orange jersey with ‘Alo’ Jannik’ written on it. “We love him, he’s the best in the world, full stop. He’s also a good, simple guy.”

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/jann ... ew'>Jannik Sinner</a> FansJannik Sinner fans in attendance at the Foro Italico in Rome.

The sense of connection was evident as Jannik Sinner returned to the capital for the first time since becoming the first Italian to reach No. 1 in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings. The 23-year-old was met with a chorus of ‘Olé, Olé, Olé, Sinner’ during his first practice session on Campo Centrale, and those chants have not ceased as he made his way through the draw.

Yet the enthusiasm isn’t reserved just for one player. Having joined Sinner inside the Top 10, Lorenzo Musetti's rise marks another step forward for the country’s depth, becoming just the sixth Italian player to achieve that feat.

The adoration for Musetti was evident on Wednesday night, when the Italian rode the backing of a lively crowd to an inspired performance over defending champion Alexander Zverev. With his win, Musetti became the first Italian player to reach the semi-finals at all three clay-court ATP Masters 1000 events in one season.

“Full crowd, full stadium, that’s a big advantage,” said Musetti. “All week there has been incredible support from the fans. I felt the adrenaline and the energy from the first point.”

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/lore ... w'>Lorenzo Musetti</a>Lorenzo Musetti defeats Alexander Zverev in Rome. Photo: Dan Istitene/Getty Images

Four of the six Italians to have cracked the Top 10 in PIF ATP Rankings history featured in the 2025 main draw in Rome, with Matteo Berrettini and Fabio Fognini joining Sinner and Musetti. The 37-year-old Fognini, who is tied with Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic for the most men’s singles appearances in Rome (18), bade farewell to the tournament this year.

Fognini’s last dance in the capital added a layer of emotion to proceedings during the opening week.

“I love them,” Fognini said of the Italian fans. “I would like to be remembered for [being] a guy who showed passion, sometimes too much passion, on the court. That’s the way I was, I was feeling my work, feeling the tennis, feeling it in my veins.”

This year, the sense of occasion came with another unique twist. With the papal conclave taking place during the tournament’s opening week, fans on Campo Centrale looked up to see the announcement of Pope Leo XIV’s election broadcast live on the big screens.

It was a moment that added to the already distinctive atmosphere: Part history, part tennis, part something only Rome could deliver.



Fognini's passion has long been a part of Italy’s tennis culture and, as the next generation rises, it’s being carried forward by a younger group eager to make their own mark and leave an impression among the home fans.

The 21-year-old Luca Nardi, who was one of three Italian wild cards to win a main-draw match this year, spoke of what the tournament means to him and the importance of the vibrant fans.

“I was coming here when I was a kid to watch the tournament as a fan,” Nardi told ATPTour.com after edging Flavio Cobolli in a rowdy all-Italian clash on Grand Stand Arena. “Playing here in front of my home crowd is an amazing feeling. It’s always amazing, the crowd is super motivated and cheers a lot for us. Every year it’s special.”

It All Adds Up

Sinner has held the World No. 1 spot for 48 consecutive weeks, amassing six tour-level titles and just three match losses during that period. It’s no surprise that the 23-year-old from San Candido’s success has lifted expectation, as well as trophies.

“It’s a motivation not just for me, but for all Italians,” Nardi said when asked of Sinner’s progress. “I know Lorenzo [Musetti], Flavio [Cobolli] and everyone else very well, it’s a big motivation for all of us.”

That belief is mirrored by investment. The Italian Tennis Federation has expanded its commitment to the Italian ATP Masters 1000 event with a renovated Foro Italico and the addition of a new 3,200-seat stadium: Super Tennis Arena.

“Every big tournament is trying to build new things, but Rome is a little bit different,” said tournament director Paolo Lorenzi. “We have a lot of history, and this place is not only for tennis, it’s for other things.

“We just built this court from nothing. We have all the statues around the court, I think it’s something really special. Also for the players, I like that they have this feeling of staying in a place in the middle of history.”


There are seven Italian men currently inside the Top 50, and Hologic WTA World No. 5 Jasmine Paolini emphasises the strength in depth across the board. Lorenzi, the former World No. 33, recognises the impact that this new wave of Italian stars is having — not just on the court, but how the country is perceived within the sport. Their professionalism and character, he says, are playing a key role in Italy’s growing reputation.

“You have Sinner, Musetti, [Jasmine] Paolini, Berrettini… All of them have a good image,” Lorenzi said. “If you watch them, they are people that are working for tennis. At this moment, we are not only one of the best countries in the world for tennis, but also the image they give us is really important.”

With every chant, cheer, and rising star, Rome reminds us this is more than a tournament — it's a celebration of Italy's tennis renaissance.