After coming one match away last year, Jannik Sinner is finally a champion in Rome after overcoming Casper Ruud 6-4 6-4 in the final. In a match where the Italian had all the crowd support, including the President of the country in attendance, the world #1 prevailed to win his first Masters title in his native Rome.
Jannik Sinner overcomes early scare to seize control
Entering the match as a heavy underdog, Ruud came out swinging as he raced away to an early 2-0 lead, breaking the Italian to the shock of many. But that was about the only positive stretch of tennis he had in the final, as despite playing solid tennis from the baseline, Sinner’s power and consistency were simply too much for the Norwegian.
Sinner dialled in his groundstrokes to not only break back early in the first set, but secure an additional break to close it out, largely on the back of his heavy backhand.
And Sinner kept the momentum from the opening set going into the second, breaking Ruud immediately to race to a set-and-break lead. From then on, it was cruise control for the Italian, who did earn a few chances to go up a double break but ultimately, aided by some excellent serving in the second set, closed out the match without much issue.
Italian Completes the Golden Masters on home soil
The victory marked Sinner’s 34th consecutive match win at Masters 1000 events, a record. He has also now won six consecutive Masters 1000 tournaments, another record, as the Italian continues etching his name deeper into tennis history. Sinner also ended a half-century drought for an Italian champion in Rome with his victory, continuing to redefine tennis for his nation.
Most importantly, with this title run in Rome, Sinner has become just the second, and by far the youngest, player in ATP history to complete the Golden Masters, winning every Masters 1000 event at least once. It is a feat that all-time greats such as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer never achieved, with Novak Djokovic previously the only man to accomplish it.
The world #1 has now also won all three Masters 1000 events on clay this year and is set to enter the French Open as the prohibitive favourite. A title in Paris would also complete a Career Grand Slam for Jannik Sinner, another feat never achieved by an Italian tennis player. It adds yet another chapter to what is rapidly becoming one of the most historic runs the sport has seen.
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
