Jannik Sinner is on the cusp of making history as the first Italian man to win the Italian Open in 50 years, with only two more wins needed. His exceptional form suggests he may also be a force to reckon with at the upcoming French Open. Sinner’s recent victory over No. 14 Andrey Rublev in a 6-2, 6-4 match not only propelled him to the semifinals but also set a new record of 32 consecutive wins in Masters 1000 events, surpassing Novak Djokovic.
Expressing humility, Sinner mentioned, “I don’t play for records. I play just for my own story. And obviously at the same time it means a lot to me.” The last Italian man to clinch the singles title at the Foro Italico was Adriano Panatta back in 1976, who will be presenting the trophy to this year’s champion, in the presence of Italy President Sergio Mattarella.
Sinner’s next challenge in the semifinals will be facing off against Daniil Medvedev, the 2023 Rome champion. The other semifinal will feature Casper Ruud of Norway against Luciano Darderi, an Italian of Argentine descent. The enthusiastic support for Sinner was evident in the stands, with fans donning orange hats and shirts, his signature color, and cheering him on with signs that read, “Sinner, Make us dream.”
Having lost in last year’s final to Carlos Alcaraz, who is currently sidelined due to a wrist injury, Sinner is determined to make his mark this year. His remarkable winning streak includes 27 consecutive victories, with his last defeat dating back to February. Sinner is also eyeing a feat achieved only by Djokovic – triumphing at all nine Masters events, with the Italian Open being the only one missing from his collection.
In the women’s tournament, Coco Gauff secured a spot in the final for the second consecutive year by defeating Sorana Cirstea. Gauff’s impressive performance included saving a match point in an earlier round and a comeback win from a set down. She will face either Iga Swiatek or Elina Svitolina in the final. Gauff expressed her contentment with her straight-sets victory, stating, “I’m just happy to be through in straight sets today. It’s been a marathon week.”