By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Jannik Sinner became the first Italian man to win the Italian Open since Adriano Panatta in 1976 by beating Casper Ruud 6-4 6-4 in Sunday’s Rome final.
Sinner also joined Noval Djokovic as the second player to complete the Career Golden Masters in series history, having now captured all nine ATP Masters 1000 titles. Djokovic achieved the feat in 2018 after winning Cincinnati.
Sinner is 24, and with his only real rival, Carlos Alcaraz, currently sidelined due to a right wrist injury, seemingly nobody can beat him.
He also extended his winning streak to 29 matches, with his most recent defeat having come against Jakub Mensik in the Qatar Open quarterfinals on February 19.
“I think this year was the 50th year since an Italian won and I am really, really happy,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “There was a lot of tension on both sides, it was not perfect tennis from both of us, but I am really happy. [It has been] an incredible past two and a half months. I try to put myself in the best possible position every time and do the best I can. Not every day is simple, but I am really, really happy.”
Roland Garros is the only Grand Slam that Sinner hasn’t won. He has two Australian Open titles and has won Wimbledon and the US Open once each.
Sinner improved to 5-0 in his career against Ruud.
“What you’re doing this year, it’s hard to describe in words,” Ruud told Sinner during the trophy ceremony. “It’s really an honor to watch you play. … Congratulations for making history.”