Djokovic may need a volleyer as a coach to clinch Roland Garros title

PROCEEDINGS on Court Pietrangeli this past week have put a smile on the face of every statuesque Roman god and gladiator lining the perimeter of Foro Italico — indeed it has been a monumental week for Italian tennis.

- DEBORAH CURTIS-SETCHELL

Not only has World No 1 Jannik Sinner re-entered the ATP fray and surpassed expectation after three months of not competing, but his younger compatriots have been inspired to simultaneously excel.

Matteo Arnaldi sent GOAT Novak Djokovic prematurely packing 6-3 6-4 in Madrid, precipitated the Serb’s withdrawal from Rome, while Lorenzo Musetti felled defending champion Alexander Zverev 7-6(2) 6-4 in the Rome quarters in arguably the match of the tournament with mercurial shot-making, eclipsing even the mighty Carlos Alcaraz, as the “drop-shot king”.

As a result, it will be the first time since the inception of the Open era that two Italian men have made it into the last four of the Rome Masters.

Not to be outdone, in the WTA draw, feisty Jasmine Pasolini fought back in her semis clash against American Peyton Stearns to prevail 7-5 6-1 and become the first Italian woman in a decade to reach the Rome final - since her doubles partner Sarah Errani achieved this feat.