Two weeks of dolce vita tennis at the Foro Italico reached their climax on Sunday evening, when Jannik Sinner overcame Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 to complete a historic run in Rome. At 24, the Italian became only the second player after Novak Djokovic to win all nine ATP Masters 1000 events. On the women’s side, Elina Svitolina returned to the top by defeating Coco Gauff and lifting her first Masters 1000 title in eight years. Rome celebrated all weekend. Here is why it mattered.
Sunday’s final against Casper Ruud was not Jannik Sinner at his absolute best. Yet that is precisely what continues to unsettle the tennis world: even below his peak level, he still produces the cleanest tennis on court. The final began awkwardly for the Italian, broken in his opening service game, but Sinner immediately responded with one of his trademark parallel backhands before calmly restoring control on serve. Early on, he looked less precise than usual - though never uncomfortable.
From there, the match settled into a tense exchange of holds. Ruud deserves credit: unlike many before him, he refused to fold under Sinner’s rhythm. But at 4-4, the match drifted towards the moment every player fears against the world No.1 - serving when the pressure peaks. Sinner earned two break points and, after Ruud pushed a forehand wide, seized the set.
The second unfolded as confirmation rather than comeback. Sinner broke immediately with another blistering backhand winner, setting the tone once more. Ruud adjusted and nearly found a way back at 4-3, but Sinner stood firm as the Foro Italico echoed with chants of “Olé, Olé, Olé, Sinner”. At 5-4, serving for the title, he closed the match with ruthless clarity: backhand winner, ace, net rush, forehand strike. Six consecutive Masters 1000 titles and the second player ever to complerte the Career Golden Masters (the Career Slam at Masters 1000 level).
He did it beneath the Roman sky, under the anxious gaze of his parents and the watch of Italian president Sergio Mattarella - a stage any Italian athlete would dream of inhabiting while making history. “I get very emotional when President Mattarella watches me. I usually end up saying something inappropriate,” Sinner joked during the trophy ceremony. History, however, is becoming increasingly serious around him. With Rome conquered, only Roland Garros separates him from completing the Career Slam.
The WTA continues to offer tennis something the ATP rarely does: the constant possibility of renewal. While Jannik Sinner is building an era through relentless dominance, the women’s tour still leaves room for surprise, reinvention and emotional swings. After Marta Kostyuk’s triumph in Madrid, another Ukrainian stepped forward in Rome: Elina Svitolina.
Now ranked world No.7 after once reaching No.3, Svitolina had not lifted a Masters 1000 title since 2018 - also in Rome. On Saturday, her story returned full circle against Coco Gauff. Like Sinner earlier in the evening, Svitolina did not begin well: Gauff broke early and led 4-2 with two break points to widen the gap. But experience in tennis often reveals itself through resilience. Svitolina steadied, held serve, broke back and gradually turned the match around to take the opening set 6-4. Across the net, frustration consumed Gauff, who struck her racket against her head before throwing it to the court, unable to convert the opportunities she had created.
The second set tightened considerably, Gauff pushing relentlessly to force a decider. And once finals reach a third set, matches often become battles of nerve as much as tennis. This is where Svitolina separated herself. From 1-2 down, she surged through five consecutive games, overwhelming Gauff with clarity and composure to serve for the title at 5-2. On her third championship point, she charged the net and threaded a brilliant passing shot beyond the American to seal the match.
Resilience and precision carried Svitolina to the title. For Gauff, the final ended in visible pain and frustration.
While Coco Gauff admitted on social media that a third defeat this year to Elina Svitolina “stings”, Rome may again serve as motivation rather than setback. Last year, Gauff also lost the Italian final - to Jasmine Paolini - days before lifting Roland Garros.
Jannik Sinner will now take a week to recover after six consecutive Masters 1000 finals before chasing the one title still missing from his résumé: Roland Garros.
The French Open begins on Sunday, 24 May.
