Jannik Sinner suffers huge injury scare as he sets up Italian Open final showdown with Carlos Alcaraz

Kevin Palmer 16 May 2025 10:09 PM

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner did his best to play down injury fears after he battled his way through to a mouth-watering Italian Open final against Carlos Alcaraz in Rome.

After a sublime performance blew Casper Ruud away in the quarter-finals, there was an expectation that Sinner would move through the gears and dismiss Tommy Paul in equally emphatic fashion to book a dream final against Alcaraz.

Yet the Italian fans were stunned as Sinner lost the first five games of the semi-final and could not stop Paul claiming it 6-1.

He found his form in the second set as he went on a nine-game winning streak, but it was then that a leg problem appeared to be affecting him as Paul roared back into contention.

In the end, Sinner claimed a 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 victory and he was asked to address the injury concern that may be a factor in his latest meeting with Alcaraz.

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“Since the third round, I have a small blister under my feet that doesn’t allow me to move in some moments,” stated Sinner, who then went on to admit he also has a ‘leg problem’ that appeared to be a hamstring strain.

“I felt it more today than in other matches. Leg wise, I’m not concerned. It is just a bit tight, but this is normal.

“There are no excuses and for Sunday, I am 100 per-cent not concerned.”

Sinner also reflected on a thrilling match that swung one way and then the next, with Sinner suggesting the change of conditions were as significant as a spirited performance from Paul.

“I tried to stay there mentally,” said Sinner. “The conditions were completely different. It’s much colder today. The ball is a bit heavier. I struggled with that a bit. He broke me straight away so that’s a straight punch in my face, but I tried to stay there mentally. Trying to understand what might work better. I stayed there in the first set.

“Winning this one game for me [in the first set] was very important for me. Tennis can change quickly. That’s what I said yesterday with Casper. Every moment is very crucial. Very happy to be in the final.

“If I want to win Sunday I have to play some of my best tennis. Carlos played some incredible tennis today. Let’s see what’s coming. From my side, incredible to be here in the final.”

By reaching the final, Sinner became the first player to reach the final in seven consecutive tournament’s appearances (between Cincinnati 2024 and Rome 2025) since Andy Murray in 2016 and he is the youngest to achieve that feat since Ivan Lendl in 1982.

In addition, Sinner has now won nine of his last 10 matches when he lost the opening set, with the only exception in this span coming at the Canada Open last season, as he defeated by Andrey Rublev.

Now Sinner will look to chip into Alcaraz’s lead in their head-to-head record, with the young Spaniard holding a 6-4 lead over his biggest rival as they prepare to meet for the first time since last year’s final in Beijing.

Alcaraz won that match in a third set tie-break in what was Sinner’s last defeat, as he has gone on a 26 match unbeaten run since then.