Sinner, Paolini Fit for Italian Tennis' Prime

Country enjoying golden age in the sport, with a revival in men's and women's tours

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ROME – The Foro Italico (Italian Forum) has lived up to its name last week, as Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini have given home fans a local hero to cheer for in both singles finals at the Italian Open.

Sinner can end a near five-decade wait for an Italian winner of the men's tournament in Rome, with Adriano Panatta way back in 1976 the last man to claim the title for a home player.

The world No. 1 on May 18 took on rival Carlos Alcaraz in a blockbuster final for tennis fans, who have watched Sinner return from his three-month doping ban for testing positive twice in March 2024 for traces of clostebol, a contamination the doping authorities accept was accidental. The final ended after press time.

The 23-year-old was the first Italian to win a men's Grand Slam tournament since Panatta, again since 1976, when he won the Australian Open in January 2024.

He then became the first of his compatriots to claim top spot in the world rankings in June, and then the first to win the year-ending ATP Finals.