After speculation over whether he would load manage during the season by skipping Rome following a hectic few months on the court, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is all set to take part in the final clay-court Masters 1000 event of the year.
A finalist in Rome last year, Sinner enters the tournament this time around as the heavy favorite to claim the title, a feat that would see him break a multitude of historical records.
Jannik Sinner Confirms Rome Return
Although it was always expected that the Italian would take part in Rome, Sinner did not confirm his participation during Madrid, where he won the title. He stated multiple times how much he enjoys playing in Rome, but added that he would first listen to his physical condition this time around. Now, five days after lifting the title in Madrid, Sinner is all set to begin preparations for the event in Rome after deciding to participate.
Speaking in his pre-tournament press conference,
“It’s wonderful to return to Rome, especially after last year. I was out for months, and coming back here I felt the affection from so many people. Tiredness? Honestly, in Madrid, I felt like I recovered during the tournament. Physically, I feel good. I had three completely free days, without tennis or gym. I only have two days to prepare for the tournament, but in my opinion, it was the right choice. I’ll see how I react on the court.”
Historic Milestones Await Jannik Sinner in Rome
Although the motivation of playing in front of his home fans will be immense for Sinner, competing in Rome also puts him in contention for several historic milestones that could further cement his place in tennis history. A title in Rome would mark his sixth consecutive Masters 1000 crown, which would be an all-time record in men’s tennis.
It would also mean that Sinner has won every Masters 1000 event at least once, completing the full Masters collection. He would become just the second player ever, behind Novak Djokovic, to achieve the feat, and by far the youngest to do so at 24 years old, compared to Djokovic achieving it at 31. Additionally, Sinner would become only the second player ever, after Rafael Nadal, to win all three clay-court Masters 1000 events in the same season.
Another landmark awaiting Sinner is the record for the most consecutive wins in Masters 1000 events. Currently sitting on a 28-match winning streak in such tournaments, Sinner needs four wins in Rome to surpass Djokovic’s record of 31 consecutive victories. All of these milestones would signal that, after what was a slower start to the season compared to the previous two years, Sinner is firmly back at the top of the men’s tennis hierarchy, especially with his biggest rival, Carlos Alcaraz, currently sidelined with a wrist injury.
Rome Offers the Perfect French Open Preparation
Arguably the most important aspect for Sinner, however, is the opportunity Rome provides for fine-tuning his preparation ahead of the French Open, as both tournaments are played in similar conditions.
Sinner will be chasing the Career Grand Slam in Paris later this month, and there would be no better way to prepare for the event than by producing a strong result at his hometown tournament in Rome. Any records that potentially come with that would be a bonus for Sinner, who continues to establish himself as one of the dominant forces in tennis this decade.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
