Jannik Sinner Overcomes First-Set Wobble to Beat Tommy Paul

Jannik Sinner battles past Tommy Paul 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 to reach the Italian Open final, where he'll face Carlos Alcaraz.

Jannik Sinner came from a set down to defeat Tommy Paul 1-6, 6-0, 6-3, advancing to the Italian Open final. The world No. 1 showed resilience in front of a packed crowd, overcoming a shaky start to continue his push for a first Foro Italico title.

Sinner will now face Carlos Alcaraz in the final, setting up a highly anticipated matchup between two of the world's top players.

After a sluggish start, Jannik Sinner regained his form on centre court, extending his unbeaten streak to 26 matches since returning from a three-month doping ban. The 23-year-old's strong performance sets up a showdown with Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

Their matchup is particularly notable as Alcaraz is the last player to have beaten Sinner in the China Open final earlier in October. With both players already eyeing the French Open, this final serves as a preview of another potential clash between the pair next month.

A Jannik Sinner victory would mark a historic moment, as it would be the first time an Italian man has won the Rome title since Adriano Panatta in 1976. Sinner acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying, “If I want to win Sunday, I have to play some of my best tennis for sure.”

Jannik Sinner joins Alcaraz in the Rome final, chasing home glory 🏆#IBI25 pic.twitter.com/0DsIh27Hoh

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 16, 2025

Sinner expressed his excitement for the final, recognizing Carlos Alcaraz's impressive form: “Carlos has played incredible tennis today, so let's see what's coming, but from my side, it's incredible to be here in the final.”

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the Italian Open final by defeating Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6(4) in just over two hours. The four-time Grand Slam champion showed resilience in windy conditions to reach his fourth final of the season.

After his win, Alcaraz was already looking ahead to the final, saying, “I'm going to have dinner, but my phone is going to be there watching (Sinner's) match,” as he prepares to face Jannik Sinner.

Yesterday we reported that Jannik Sinner joined Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray as the only men this century to win 25 matches in a row.

Today he did one better 😳 pic.twitter.com/Xt0ofUDR7V

— TENNIS (@Tennis) May 16, 2025

Lorenzo Musetti believes Carlos Alcaraz will be the favorite against Jannik Sinner in the final if he brings his top form. Musetti, who lost to Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo final last month, said, “I really rate Carlos. I think on clay that the best version of Carlos is favourite against anyone... that includes Jannik.”

After his loss to Alcaraz, Musetti expressed his admiration for the Spaniard's skills, particularly on clay. He noted that Alcaraz's form would be crucial in determining the outcome of the final, saying that if Alcaraz performs at his best, he would be hard to beat. Musetti also mentioned that he had to watch Sinner's match to prepare Alcaraz, saying “I have to know against whom I'm going to play. I have to watch the match and see how they are going to play.”

Tommy Paul dominated the first set, winning the first five games in just 21 minutes. He wrapped up the set in under 30 minutes, losing only a handful of points. This strong start mirrored Jannik Sinner's own dominant performance against Casper Ruud earlier in the tournament.

SINNER VS ALCARAZ: EPISODE XI ⚔️

For the first time *EVER* in a Masters 1000 final, it’s Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz!!!#IBI25 pic.twitter.com/zwagMHIla3

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 16, 2025

The last time Sinner suffered a similar set loss was in the US Open quarterfinals against Daniil Medvedev, but he ultimately won the match en route to his second Grand Slam title. This historical context adds weight to Sinner's remarkable comeback in their match.

Jannik Sinner initially struggled, looking far from his dominant form. However, he staged a remarkable turnaround in the second set, finding his rhythm with deep baseline shots and aces. Sinner's resurgence was emphatic, as he won the set 6-0, leveling the match and setting the stage for a intense final set.

The match dynamics flipped dramatically in the second set, with Jannik Sinner dominating and Tommy Paul struggling. Sinner won the set 6-0, holding Paul to just 12 points and showcasing a stark contrast in form.

In the third set, Paul's early struggles continued, handing Sinner the initiative with his second double fault. Sinner seized the momentum, winning nine consecutive games and cruising to victory.