M 1000 ROME.Italy
Carlos Alcaraz, currently ranked No. 2 in the ATP standings, will face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner this Sunday in the final of the Rome Masters 1000, after both players secured victories in their respective semifinal matches—Alcaraz defeating Lorenzo Musetti (No. 9), and Sinner overcoming Tommy Paul (No. 12).
Italian star Jannik Sinner narrowly avoided disaster in Friday’s semifinal, mounting a spectacular comeback against American Tommy Paul. After dropping the first set 1-6, Sinner stormed back to win 6-0, 6-3 and book his place in the final, where he’ll face longtime rival Carlos Alcaraz.
Speaking after the match, Sinner reflected on the upcoming showdown: “Playing Carlos before two Grand Slams is a good thing—it gives me a reference point to see where I stand and what I can improve. We’re completely different in terms of playing style.”
“The level between us is usually very high. We push each other to do things we normally wouldn’t. This match is different—I’m in a situation I’ve never experienced before, and I just want to see where I am. Still, our matches always give us something, both positive and negative, because we’re young and we play good tennis,” he added.
Sinner also commented on his performance against Paul: “I felt different compared to yesterday’s match against Casper Ruud, but I found a solution and I’m happy with that. I wanted the ball to bounce a bit more, but couldn’t make it happen. He was attacking my backhand a lot, so I tried to move him with my forehand. In the end, I won with heart, staying strong. I’ll need to raise my level for Sunday, but it also depends on the conditions—whether it’s windy or not, cold or hot.”