**Jannik Sinner’s Gritty Path to Italian Open Final**
Jannik Sinner, the World No. 1, battled through a punishing start to reach the Italian Open final on May 16, 2025, defeating Tommy Paul 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 in the semifinals. Sinner likened Paul’s blistering first set to “a straight punch in my face,” as the American broke him twice and dominated with aggressive play, winning the set in just 28 minutes. Struggling with colder conditions and heavier balls, Sinner regrouped, unleashing a flawless second set, winning 6-0 with 12 winners and zero unforced errors, according to TennisViz. In the third, he overcame a minor leg concern—dismissed as “not an issue”—to secure the victory with 78% first-serve points won.
This triumph made Sinner the first Italian man since Adriano Panatta in 1978 to reach the Rome singles final, where he faced Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-2. Sinner’s 2025 clay form, including a 6-0, 6-1 quarter-final demolition of Ruud, and his 11-0 season start highlight his dominance. Despite earlier web speculation about withdrawals, Sinner and Alcaraz both competed, with Sinner’s final berth confirmed. Posts on X praised his resilience, with one fan dubbing him “the comeback king.” The Alcaraz final, their first ATP clash since 2023, tests Sinner’s 4-3 head-to-head lead, with a potential title cementing his French Open favoritism.
