“Honestly, I need him on the tour because, I mean, he pushes me to be a better player and give 100% every day, to be better,” Carlos Alcaraz had said with admiration before the Italian Jannik Sinner’s much-awaited return at the Roman clay. On May 5, the 23-year-old Italian star made his comeback following a three-month hiatus, drawing an electric crowd of nearly 5,000 fans for his 1st practice alone. The anticipation was sky high, and Sinner’s presence has reignited the fire on tour. Now, as the tournament reaches its thrilling crescendo, the top two in the ATP Race are set for a blockbuster final showdown. And yes! Alcaraz isn’t holding back in praising the Italian sensation who fuels his competitive fire once again!
The 3rd seed Carlos Alcaraz made a bold statement under pressure on Friday, overcoming Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6(4) in the SF of the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome. Battling through gusty conditions, a raucous Italian crowd, and a mid-match surge from Musetti, the 21-year-old kept his composure to book his 25th tour-level final.
The Spaniard experienced a slight dip in form, losing two straight games at 4-1 in the opening set and falling behind 2-4 in the 2nd. However, his resilience shone through as he powered his way across the finish line, securing victory and immediately turning his attention to a potential blockbuster final on Sunday.
Speaking on Tennis Channel after the match, Alcaraz didn’t shy away from acknowledging the challenge ahead, especially if it involves Jannik Sinner on Italian soil. “Obviously could be a really difficult challenge you know playing against Jannik,” he began. “It was so was a really difficult challenge but I think it’s going to be even more difficult playing at home, you know, with the people behind him supporting him. I think if today were difficult to play or to deal with the crowd, sometimes I think against Jannik, it’s going to be even tougher.”
250517 — ROME, May 17, 2025 — Carlos Alcaraz returns a shot during the men s singles semifinal match between Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Lorenzo Musetti of Italy at the ATP, Tennis Herren Italian Open in Rome, Italy, May 16, 2025. Photo by /Xinhua SPITALY-ROME-TENNIS-ATP-ITALIAN OPEN-CARLOS ALCARAZ VS LORENZO MUSETTI AlbertoxLingria PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN
Alcaraz, known for his level-headedness, emphasized the need for mental resilience when facing a player like Jannik with an entire nation behind him. “If I playing against Jannik, I have to be ready to put my game A, my best tennis, and obviously my best mental strength, if I want to deal with the match in the right way,” he added during his interview after the semifinal, showcasing his awareness of the emotional and psychological aspect of competing in such a high-stakes match at the clay.
In their H2H rivalry, Alcaraz leads Sinner 6-4, though the Italian is not far behind. The head-to-head record between Sinner and the four-time Grand Slam champion is currently tied at one victory apiece on clay, with Sinner prevailing in Umag (2022) and his opponent winning their Roland Garros semifinal (2023).
And as both players now advance to Sunday’s title clash, the admiration is mutual. Sinner, too, has spoken highly of Alcaraz’s consistency and brilliance, setting the stage for an epic finale.
“We know each other quite well,” Jannik Sinner opened up before facing Alcaraz at the final
Jannik Sinner survived an early scare and a sluggish start on Friday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, rallying to defeat Tommy Paul 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 and book his spot in the final of Roman Clay. Returning to action on home soil, the top seed looked out of sorts in the 1st set, struggling to handle Paul’s depth and consistency. The American’s aggressive game drew errors from the Italian ace, momentarily silencing the passionate Italian crowd packed inside Campo Centrale. However, Sinner regrouped quickly, flipping the script in the 2nd set with a dominant bagel before closing out the decider with composed shot-making and court coverage, much to the delight of his fans.
Tennis, ATP Turnier in Rom, Jannik Sinner Training Jannik Sinner ITA during Internazionali d Italia BNL, at Foro Italico, Rome, Italy on May 8, 2025 during Internazionali BNL d Italia, International Tennis match in Rome, Italy, May 08 2025 PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxITA Copyright: xValerioxOrigo/IPAxSportx/xipa-agency.netx/xx IPA_57445580 IPA_Agency_IPA57445580
After the match against Paul, Sinner turned his focus to Sunday’s showdown with Carlos Alcaraz. The two have built one of tennis’s most compelling rivalries, and their 11th H2H clash promises fireworks. “We know each other quite well now,” Sinner said of Alcaraz. “It’s always special to share the court with him. I feel like we both know how to play against each other a little bit, so we have to be prepared tactically. Of course, small things are going to be changed. But it’s just a great test for me to see where I am.”
Both players will contest their 25th tour-level final on Sunday, but Sinner is still chasing his maiden clay-court ATP Masters 1000 title. With the Roman crowd behind him and Alcaraz standing across the net, the final promises high drama, as well as elite tennis, and a new chapter in this budding rivalry.
So, with all eyes on the Final, who are you backing: Sinner or Alcaraz?
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