Jannik Sinner has claimed his place in a sixth consecutive Masters 1000 final after beating Daniil Medvedev on Saturday.
Sinner and Medvedev began the semi-final contest on Friday, but were forced to postpone the match midway through the third set due to rain delays.
Sinner eventually proved too strong for the Russian, winning 6-2, 5-6, 6-4 in the Foro Italico on Saturday.
Who will win the Italian Open final?
Jannik Sinner vs Casper Ruud
The four-time Grand Slam champion has set up a clash with Casper Ruud in the final; and Sinner will feel confident heading into the contest due to his 4-0 record against the Norwegian on the ATP Tour.
Sinner, who is the strong favourite heading into Sunday’s contest, has already made tennis history by qualifying for the final in Rome.
Jannik Sinner has reached back-to-back finals in Rome
As per statisticians OptaAce, Jannik Sinner has become the first Italian to reach back-to-back finals at the Italian Open since Nicola Pietrangeli in 1957 and 1958.
Pietrangeli, an icon of Italian tennis, won the 1957 Italian Championships after defeating compatriot Giuseppe Merlo 8–6, 6–2, 6–4.
A year later, Pietrangeli was defeated in the final by Australia’s Mervyn Rose, 5–7, 8–6, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2.
The last five Italian Open Men’s Singles finals
- 2022: Novak Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-0, 7-6
- 2023: Daniil Medvedev defeated Holger Rune 7-5, 7-5
- 2024: Alexander Zverev defeated Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-5
- 2025: Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner 7-6, 6-1
- 2026: Jannik Sinner vs Casper Ruud
Around 67 years later, Jannik Sinner qualified for his first Italian Open final.
The Italian defeated Mariano Navone, Jesper de Jong, Francisco Cerundolo, Casper Ruud and Tommy Paul on his way to the championship showpiece in Rome.
In the final, Sinner was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz, 6-7, 1-6.
This year, Sinner has the opportunity to make history in Rome. He would become the first Italian winner of the Italian Open since 1976, when Adriano Panatta lifted the trophy.
Panatta – the only man to defeat Bjorn Borg at Roland Garros – defeated Guillermo Vilas 2–6, 7–6, 6–2, 7–6 in the 1976 final.
Jannik Sinner discusses the Italian Open final
During his post-match press conference after defeating Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner briefly discussed his feelings ahead of another final in the Italian capital.
“Yeah, obviously very happy [to have made the final]. It’s a very special tournament for me and for us Italians,” Sinner told reporters in Rome.
Was Jannik Sinner wrong to call a medical time-out?
Daniil Medvedev wasn't happy!
“I’m very happy to find myself again in the final.
But mentally I know tomorrow is a tough match. Final’s always very different to play.
“Happy to find myself again, in any case, in the final. Let’s see what’s coming.”
If Sinner defeats Ruud on Sunday, he would become the first man in tennis history to win six consecutive Masters 1000 titles.
Sinner had won Masters 1000 events in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid before participating in the Italian Open.
