On May 18, 2025, the final will mark the first meeting between Sina and Alkaraz since October, when Alkaraz won the China Open final in the third set draw. File | Image source: Reuters
Jannik Sinner has been reaching the final of his first game since a three-month doping ban, with Carlos Alcaraz waiting for him at the Italian Open.
“Usually, when we play with each other, the level is high because we push each other to do things we don’t usually do,” Sinner said. “I’d love to know where I am.”
The highest-ranked sinner gathered with 12th-place Tommy Paul in the semifinals on Friday (May 16, 2025) as he tried to be the first Italian to lift the Roman trophy since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
Earlier, Alcaraz defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6 (4) to reach his first Rome final.
The final on Sunday (May 18, 2025) will mark the first meeting between Sina and Alkaraz, who won the China Open final in the third set final. Alcaraz won the game 6-4 in the professional conference and won three straight wins against his biggest rival.
But since Beijing defeated Alkaraz, the Sinners have not lost to 26 consecutive victories. He is playing in his first match since he won his third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.
“He’s doing a great job. I’ve been watching him play,” Alkaraz said. “His level is really high right now. Every time I fight him, it’s always a fight, it’s always very, very tough. I kind of enjoyed (those) moments.”
Sinner raised his own level in the quarterfinals on Thursday (May 15, 2025). In the game against Paul, Sina made a powerless mistake in the first set, while his American opponent hit the field after shooting. But the sinner turned around quickly.
Sina said the cooler conditions were heavier, which made it more challenging, and being broken in his first service game was “My Face.” “But I’m trying to stay there mentally, trying to understand what might be better,” Sina said. “Tennis can change quickly.” At the end of the game, sinners sometimes seemed to be stubborn, grabbing their thighs.
“Since the third round, I have a small blister under my feet, which doesn’t allow me to move at certain moments,” he said. “I’m not worried about my legs, it’s a little tight.
“There is no excuse. Adrenaline, Sunday (May 18, 2025) will only have a lot of energy. I’m 100% not worried.” Sinner, the first Italian in the Rome final since Panatta’s loss to Bjorn Borg in 1978, noted that playing the sinner before his hometown crowd would be “more challenging”.
Sina’s fans went all out, many of them wearing wigs and hats, and orange was his theme color. In the semifinal, a fan held up a sign high, which translated from Italian to “Sinner, we miss you.”
In February, Sina agreed to a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which raised questions as the three-month pause conveniently allowed him not to miss any Grand Slams before returning to his home game.
Rome is the last big warm-up before the French Open begins on May 25.
Alcaraz won the Monte Carlo Masters for Alcaraz in the third final of three clay games this season and finished second in the Barcelona Open. He withdrew from the Madrid Open due to injury.
Alcaraz, third-ranked, withdrew from the Madrid Championship’s upper right leg release and also suffered a left leg injury. In Rome, he wore a long black support covering the upper part of his right leg and extended under his knees.
Musetti won Alcaraz’s first match in the Monte Carlo final, but Alcaraz broke the Italian serving in the first match, silenced the Pro-Musetti crowd at Campo Centrale. Instead of making non-compulsory mistakes, Musetti started pushing Alcaraz at the end of the scene.
Musetti was eliminated late in the second set after receiving a warning earlier for breaking the racket.
Alcaraz said on a windy day in Foro Italico that this is not about playing “glory”, but about “smart tennis.”
“Waiting for your chance to play actively, so I think I did a great job,” Alkaraz said. “I stayed strong mentally when things didn’t fall for me.”
Alcaraz called Italian for the second time. During Rome’s debut last year, he lost to the then No. 135 Hungary qualifier in the third round.
Paolini doubled the final in singles. The women’s final will feature on Saturday (May 17, 2025) against Jasmine Paolini.
publishing – May 17, 2025 at 11:28 am
