In a thunderous celebration at the Foro Italico, Jannik Sinner etched his name into tennis immortality on Sunday, becoming the first Italian to win the Internazionali BNL d’Italia since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
The World No. 1 dismantled Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 44 minutes, claiming his first Rome title and his sixth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 crown.
The victory wasn’t just another trophy for the 24-year-old sensation — it marked a monumental milestone. Sinner joined Novak Djokovic as only the second player in history to complete the Career Golden Masters, having now triumphed at all nine elite 1000-level events. Djokovic achieved the feat in 2018; Sinner has done it with ruthless efficiency and youthful brilliance.
“I think this year was the 50th year since an Italian won and I am really, really happy,” Sinner said in his on-court interview, his voice echoing across a raucous Campo Centrale. “There was a lot of tension on both sides, it was not perfect tennis from both of us, but I am really happy. An incredible past two and a half months.”The atmosphere was electric from the first point. A packed crowd roared every winner, waved flags, and chanted “Ole, Ole, Ole, Sinner, Sinner!” as their hero gradually took command.
Ruud, the 23rd seed, came out firing, winning eight of the first nine points to surge into a 2-0 lead in the opening set. But Sinner, known for his ice-cool demeanour and baseline dominance, weathered the early storm.
The turning point arrived at 4-4, 15-15. Sinner produced a perfectly disguised drop shot that left Ruud stranded, then pumped his fist in delight. The Italian broke serve in that game and closed out the set to love with clinical authority. Momentum firmly in his corner, Sinner broke immediately at the start of the second set with a blistering backhand winner down the line.
He showcased exquisite touch throughout, including a delightful drop shot-volley-lob combination at 3-2 in the second set. Even when nerves surfaced — missing a smash on a crucial break point at 4-3, 40-40 — Sinner dug deep, saving the break and marching on. He sealed the match on his first championship point, raising both arms skyward before embracing his team in pure elation.
The triumph came despite visible physical concerns. Sinner had endured a gruelling semi-final against Daniil Medvedev that spilled from Friday into Saturday due to rain, leaving him visibly fatigued at times. Yet against Ruud, who had cruised past Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-1, the Italian moved with freedom and confidence.“It was physical and very tough but I am very happy,” Sinner added. “I give big thanks to my physical team I have all year long, trying to keep up my body, which is as important as the tennis coaches, so I am really happy.”Ruud, who had been dominated by Sinner in their previous two meetings (including a humiliating 6-0, 6-1 loss in Rome last year), showed fight early but couldn’t break the Italian’s serve once. Sinner’s relentless depth, precision, and improved return game proved too much.
The 29-time tour-level champion now boasts a staggering 36-2 record this season. With his tenth Masters 1000 title secured, the question isn’t whether Sinner can dominate — it’s how long this golden run will last.
For Italian tennis fans, this was more than a title. It was a long-awaited homecoming. Fifty years after Panatta’s triumph, Sinner has delivered — and the eternal city couldn’t have asked for a more worthy successor.
