Rome: Sinner the Imperatore
Crowned champion of the prestigious Rome event, the Italian continues to rewrite the record books.
His name keeps echoing around the game’s greatest arenas. On Sunday, Jannik Sinner added the last missing Masters 1000 title to his already remarkable résumé.
Mastering his emotions
With only one week to go before the start of the 2026 Roland-Garros main draw, the Campo Centrale came alive for the final of the season’s last clay-court Masters 1000. Facing Casper Ruud – competing at this stage of such a tournament for the first time this year – Jannik Sinner needed 1 hour and 44 minutes to seal the win. Trailing 0-2 after conceding eight of the first nine points, the Italian quickly adjusted, striking the ball with greater precision and power to take firm control for good.
Clearly emotional as he celebrated another victory – his 34th consecutive win at a Masters 1000 level, an all-time record – he spoke at length during the trophy ceremony: “It’s a very important tournament for me, I felt a lot of emotions today,” he explained. “There was tension, I had to go through some difficult moments, especially mentally. I’m very happy with this win!”
A cascade of new records
For 50 years, Italian fans had been waiting to celebrate the successor to Adriano Panatta, the last home champion in 1976. By adding a sixth consecutive Masters 1000 title to his growing list of achievements, Jannik Sinner lived up to every expectation.
Beyond making history in his own country, the World No.1 continues to carve out a spot among the game’s greats by piling up records. Just three years ago, the Italian claimed his first Masters 1000 title (against Alex de Minaur in Toronto in 2023), becoming only the second Italian to win at this level after Fabio Fognini (Monte-Carlo 2019). Now, at just 24 years old, he has completed the Career Golden Masters, joining Novak Djokovic as the only player to have won all nine events in the category.
“Welcome to this exclusive club,” the Serbian – who was seven years older when he achieved the feat – wrote on Instagram.
Imperious since his triumph in Paris last November, the Italian also became the first player since Rafael Nadal in 2010 to win all three clay-court Masters 1000 events in a single season. “There was no better place to complete this collection. It has always been a very special tournament for me. I’ve always felt a lot of support here, in a very positive way, with strong emotions. It means a lot to me to win here at least once in my career.”
And now, Roland-Garros?
While he admits that winning every Masters 1000 in a single season is unlikely, Jannik Sinner already has his sights firmly set on Paris. In scintillating form, he is now chasing a new goal: lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires on Sunday, June 7. “My main goal this year is winning Roland-Garros,” he insisted in press conference. “We’ll see what happens there - I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself.” Finalist of a memorable clash against Carlos Alcaraz last year, he now holds almost a 3,000-point lead over his great rival, who will not be competing in Paris this year.