Courtesy: Google
Jannik Sinner, the world number one, has reached the final of the Italian Open after defeating American Tommy Paul in three sets in the semi-finals with a scoreline of 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 in front of his home fans at the centre court in Rome. With his recent win, the Italian is now unbeaten in 26 matches on the ATP Tour, and he has also set up a blockbuster final against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz at the Italian Open on Sunday, May 18.
After returning to tennis at his home tournament - following a three-month doping ban - Jannik Sinner has been in sensational form, disposing off opponents with relative ease on clay courts in Rome, including his semi-finals opponent Tommy Paul. He is now in line to become the first Italian men’s singles player to win the coveted tournament since Adriano Panatta did it in 1976.
The second semi-final of the Italian Open had two distinct phases wherein Tommy Paul took a 5-0 lead in the first set before clinching it two games later, forcing his opponent to make a lot of errors. But then, Jannik Sinner got into his groove in the second set, earning a 6-0 bagel, winning nine successive games before clinching the third set 6-3, to secure a place in the final of the Italian Open in front of his home fans.
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Lorenzo Musetti to deny fans all Italian final in Rome
Earlier in the day, it was Carlos Alcaraz, who had to battle against Italian Lorenzo Musetti, to make the final of the tournament, despite winning in straight sets with a scoreline of 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). Alcaraz also inflicted the fifth straight loss on Musetti, which also includes their clash in the clay court season at the Monte Carlo Open in Monaco last month.
Lorenzo Musetti also got a warning from the chair umpire during the match after he smashed his racket into clay in front of his home fans at the Italian Open.
