ROME : World number one Jannik Sinner defeated Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-4 6-4 in the Italian Open final on Sunday to complete a career sweep of all nine ATP Masters 1000 titles, becoming only the second player after Novak Djokovic to achieve the feat.
Sinner captured his maiden title in Rome on his seventh appearance at the tournament, a year after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the final, and secured his fifth Masters 1000 crown of the season.
The victory also made Sinner the first Italian man to win the singles title at the Italian Open since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
“It’s a historic day because we won the doubles and the singles,” Sinner told the crowd at Foro Italico after Italian pair Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori earlier became the first home duo in 66 years to claim the men’s doubles title.
Ruud started strongly, taking a 2-0 lead with an early break in the opening set, but Sinner responded immediately and gradually took control of the match.
At 4-4 in the first set, the Italian produced a sharp backhand winner to set up break point before Ruud fired long to hand Sinner the advantage. The top seed then served out the set confidently.
Sinner broke in the opening game of the second set and maintained the edge throughout before sealing victory with a powerful forehand winner on championship point.
The triumph extended Sinner’s Masters 1000 winning streak to 34 matches, following titles in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid.
Having now added multiple claycourt titles to his collection this season, the four-time Grand Slam champion heads into the French Open as one of the leading favourites for the only major title missing from his resume.
“What you are doing this year, it’s hard to describe with words,” Ruud said after the match. “Congratulations to you for making history for yourself, for your country, for your team.”
