Jannik Sinner is into a second-straight Italian Open final, having beaten Daniil Medvedev over two rain-soaked days in Rome.
Heading into yesterday’s semi-final, there was always a fear that the match might be impacted by the weather, with a drizzly forecast predicted.
However, it was surprising to see just how damaging it proved to be to the schedule, with Casper Ruud’s first match of the day altered, before the Italian’s was suspended completely.
Sinner complained to the umpire about the weather as she insisted they play on, but the world number one eventually got his wish.
And yet, despite lobbying for this enforced delay, he has admitted that he struggled with the overnight break.
Jannik Sinner previews his Italian Open final vs Casper Ruud
Speaking whilst still on-court, after he had returned to finish the job off, he admitted it was a ‘very different challenge’ today compared to yesterday.
Jannik Sinner added: “A tough challenge, to be honest. During the night, usually I never struggle to sleep. This night was not easy.
Who will win the Italian Open final?
Jannik Sinner vs Casper Ruud
“When you’re in the third set, nearly done, but you still have to show up again… You never know what’s happening you know. It’s basically a new start of a match. There are nerves again. But again I’m very happy how I handled the situation.
“Very happy to be back in the final. Tomorrow is gonna be again a very tough day. But I’m very happy this match is finally over. It was a very long one… very happy.”
Asked about his upcoming opponent, Sinner discussed Ruud’s improvement over the last year, having pulverised the Norwegian in their last meeting, at this event last year.
He claimed: “I think he’s playing much much better tennis right now [than when they played last year]. It’s gonna be very tough. Every match every week even if you play with the same player week after week is completely different.
| Year | Event | Round | Winner |
| 2025 | Italian Open | Quarter-final | Jannik Sinner |
| 2024 | ATP Finals | Semi-final | Jannik Sinner |
| 2021 | Vienna Open | Quarter-final | Jannik Sinner |
| 2021 | Vienna Open | Round of 32 | Jannik Sinner |
“I’m just happy to stand again here in the final. Special tournament for me. Special tournament for Italians. I just try to do my best. If it goes well, I’m very happy. If not, final of a Masters is an amazing result.”
Sinner then spoke to Tim Henman with Sky Sports, adding: “Yesterday, tough match. First set played really well, then he raised his level, I didn’t find the right way to play against him, but I tried to stay there mentally, there were very long exchanges, the court was very heavy. Playing night and day is a huge difference, but happy that I ended the match now, and I try to recover as much as I can.
“And finals, they are always different, you have a little bit more energy by itself, there is a lot of things going on, so I try to do my best. It would mean a lot to be in any case, finding myself in a final again at this kind of tournament means a lot to me.”
Jannik Sinner is one win away from tennis history
Sinner is no stranger to breaking records, and has seemingly snatched a new one with each win claimed of late.
However, Sunday’s final might represent an opportunity to claim his biggest achievement yet; at least, until he plays at Roland Garros to complete the career Grand Slam.
How underrated is Casper Ruud?
He's into another Masters 1000 final…
After all, given his incredible run of form at the Masters 1000 level, the 24-year-old has won every event held this year. This has seen him tick previously unwon events off with ease.
That has left him with just one tournament left to conquer: the Italian Open.
If he beats Ruud, he will have won all nine Masters 1000 titles, a feat only Novak Djokovic can claim to have accomplished. And, if he did it this year, at just 24 years of age, he would have done it seven years faster than the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Given that Sinner recently broke another all-time Djokovic record, this could be a damaging one for the Serbian to take.
