Jannik Sinner Fights Back to Reach Italian Open Final

Rome, Italy — World number one Jannik Sinner reached the Italian Open final after overcoming American Tommy Paul in a thrilling match. Sinner battled back from a rough start to win 1-6, 6-0, 6-3, impressing the home crowd in his first tournament since serving a three-month doping ban.

In front of a packed center court, the 23-year-old Sinner’s victory extended his unbeaten streak to 26 matches. He aims to become the first Italian man to win the tournament since Adriano Panatta in 1976.

Paul, seeded 11th, stunned Sinner by taking a 5-0 lead in the first set, capitalizing on Sinner’s 13 unforced errors. However, the match turned dramatically at the start of the second set, when Sinner won nine consecutive games. Despite a brief resurgence from Paul, Sinner maintained his composure to clinch the match.

Earlier on Friday, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) to secure his spot in the final, foiling hopes of an all-Italian showdown. Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, looks strong heading into the French Open later this month.

The 22-year-old Alcaraz showcased impressive skills, winning in just over two hours. Musetti, who has now lost five times to Alcaraz, struggled with unforced errors and received a warning for slamming his racquet into the clay.

Sinner addressed concerns about potential injuries after the semi-final match, citing a small blister and leg tightness but remained optimistic. “Leg wise, I’m not concerned. It is just a bit tight, but this is normal,” he said. He acknowledged the challenge posed by Alcaraz and expressed his determination to play his best.

With both players competing for their 25th tour-level title, fans eagerly anticipate their match on Sunday.