ROME — Jannik Sinner stands just two victories away from making history as the first Italian man to clinch the Italian Open title in 50 years. With his current form, it feels like no one can hinder his progress, be it in Rome or at the eagerly anticipated French Open starting in just 10 days.
In a stunning display, the top-seeded Sinner fired his way to a 6-2, 6-4 victory over No. 14 Andrey Rublev, propelling him into the semifinals on Thursday. This win also marks his remarkable 32nd consecutive victory in Masters 1000 tournaments, surpassing none other than Novak Djokovic — the premier events outside the Grand Slams.
“I’m not chasing records. I’m writing my own narrative. But it certainly holds significant meaning for me,” Sinner remarked.
The last Italian to celebrate victory at the famed Foro Italico was the legendary Adriano Panatta in 1976. Panatta himself will present the trophy to this year’s champion on Sunday, alongside Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella, who is set to attend the final.
“This tournament holds a special place in my heart,” Sinner shared.
With nearly every fan in the 10,500-seat Campo Centrale cheering him on, many donned vibrant orange hats and T-shirts, echoing his signature color.
A group of enthusiastic supporters displayed a sign reading, “Sinner, Facce Sogna” — “Sinner, Make us dream.”
After falling to Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s Rome final, Alcaraz is now out of the tournament with a right wrist injury. Meanwhile, Jasmine Paolini made headlines in 2025 as the first Italian woman to lift the trophy in four decades.
Sinner broke Rublev’s serve in the opening game for the third match in a row, displaying unwavering control against the former No. 5 player in the world.
Rublev acknowledged Sinner’s precision: “He executed many shots beautifully, right on the line. But he’s No. 1 for a reason. You have to force him to make errors, and sustaining that level takes immense concentration.”
Despite a momentary lapse allowing Rublev to break him late in the second set, Sinner maintained his composure.
“The conditions were a bit breezy and challenging. We both may not have played at our peak today,” Sinner commented. “Toward the end, I felt a bit drained.”
“I’ll be fine. It’s typical to feel a bit tired at this stage in the tournament,” he added. “The days have been long, but I’m ready to keep pushing forward.”
Sinner has remained undefeated in Masters events since retiring due to cramps in scorching conditions against Tallon Griekspoor in Shanghai last October.
Djokovic’s record of 31 straight Masters victories was set in 2011.
Across all competitions, Sinner’s winning streak has now reached an impressive 27 matches. His last defeat came against Jakub Mensik in the Qatar Open quarterfinals on February 19, and he hasn’t lost a single set since his opening match in the Madrid Open.
Sinner is also on track to become the second man ever, after Djokovic, to win all nine Masters events, with Djokovic achieving that feat at least twice.
The Italian Open remains the only Masters title that Sinner has yet to conquer.
His next opponent in the semifinals will be either 2023 Rome champion Daniil Medvedev or the Spanish qualifier Martina Landaluce, who are scheduled to compete later.
The other semifinal will feature Norway’s Casper Ruud facing Argentine-Italian Luciano Darderi.
In the women’s draw, Coco Gauff triumphed over 36-year-old Sorana Cirstea with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-3, advancing to her second consecutive final.
Gauff showcased her resilience, saving a match point in her round-four bout against Iva Jovic and rallying from a set down to defeat Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals.
Against Cirstea, Gauff impressively landed 78% of her first serves and recorded just one double fault.
“I’m thrilled to have made it through in straight sets today,” Gauff expressed. “This week has been quite the marathon.”
Previously defeated by Paolini in the 2025 Rome final, Gauff went on to claim the French Open title afterward.
In Saturday’s final, Gauff will battle against either three-time Rome champion Iga Swiatek or two-time winner Elina Svitolina, who are set to compete later.
