World number one Jannik Sinner defeated Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 to win the Italian Open, ending a fifty-year drought for Italian men at the tournament since Adriano Panatta’s 1976 victory.
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The top-seeded Italian overcame an early 2-0 deficit in the first set, struggling with first-serve execution and depth before breaking back with a sharp backhand winner. As L’Unione Sarda reported, the decisive moment arrived at 4-4 when Sinner deployed three consecutive drop shots to break Ruud’s serve.
That shift opened up his game, allowing Sinner to increase his racquet head speed and dominate the second set. Ruud mounted a late defense, saving two break points, but Sinner closed out the match with an emphatic backhand winner.
| Statistic / Metric | Jannik Sinner | Casper Ruud |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 6 | 4 |
| Second Set Score | 6 | 4 |
| Consecutive Masters Wins | 34 | N/A |
Panatta personally presented the trophy alongside Angelo Binaghi and Sergio Mattarella, sharing a warm embrace with the new champion. Sinner admitted the physical toll of the past two and a half months.
“Physically it was very tough,” Sinner said, thanking his coaches who “look after my body and look after my tennis,” L’Unione Sarda reported.
Ruud drew sustained applause from the Foro Italico crowd during the presentation ceremony. He congratulated Sinner and his team while adding a lighthearted remark about football.
“The football is a little bit of a different story,” Ruud said, referencing Norway’s recent win over Italy in World Cup qualifying play.
Panatta shared his emotions after watching the final unfold on centre court. “Seeing Jannik win here in the heart of Rome is a thrill,” Panatta said. “In 1976 I lived a life-changing day here, and seeing an Italian player with this personality and game makes me very happy.”
