Carlos Quiets the Crowd
Credit: Getty Images
Rome 2025
We arrive in Rome, the last major event before Roland Garros, with many questions at hand on the ATP Tour. Jannik Sinner, coming off of his 3 month suspension for a positive test for clostebol, was looking to take back his throne as the top player in the world. Even though he was able to train during his time off, his inability to compete on tour had me questioning his ability to step on court in Rome and dominate like he had earlier in 2025. Boy, was I wrong. He got through his first two matches quite decisively, not dropping more than 4 games in a set in two straight sets victory. Then came Casper Ruud, my pick to win Roland Garros this year. He dismantled the Madrid 2025 Champion 6-0, 6-1 in just 65 minutes, in what was one of the most one-sided matches between two top ten players we have seen in years. Following this match, he won sets two and three handily after dropping the first to Tommy Paul. Jannik is back. This set up a blockbuster final with Carlos Alcaraz, who has had a dominant clay court season thus far. Monte Carlo champion. Barcelona finalist. Even though he had to withdraw from Madrid due to injury, he was in peak form, and looking tough as ever with his leg sleeve and nose tape. Get your popcorn ready.
Sinner vs. Alcaraz Recap:
Jannik had home court advantage in this match, which is a rarity in an individual sport. The crowd was loud and proud, supporting their hometown player. The advantage was even greater for Sinner due to the layout of the small stadium, with a capacity of just over 10,000, where it feels like the fans are right on top of the players in an intimate setting. The first test in this match came at 2-2, when Alcaraz had his first opportunity to break. Sinner held it off with ease, and we were off and running in this match. You could just tell this was going to be a battle. Both players are so good off the ground, showcasing the modern style of tennis of impeccable movement, and power from the back. The first set went to a tiebreak, after two missed opportunities from Sinner, who had two set points at 6-5 on the Alcaraz serve. Was there a bit of rust? Possibly, as Sinner missed an easy forehand return, and then failed to break again off a second serve from Carlos. Until the final few points, the tiebreaker provided a drop in level, with both players gifting the other free points. It was vintage Carlos in the final 3 points, when he snatched the tiebreaker with a colossal forehand winner at 5-4, and a perfect point at 6-5, capped off with a put away volley. 7-6 Alcaraz, and he was half way to the title.
The second set started with a gift. At 1-0 Alcaraz and 0-30 on Sinner’s, Sinner dropped an easy inside out forehand into the middle of the net, and the killer instinct of Carlos appeared. He dominated the next point, dictating play from the middle of the court, and Sinner made a forced error off the forehand wing, giving Alcaraz a break. The question was, will Sinner dig in? Alcaraz was dictating most points at this time in the match, and Sinner needed to find a way to get on top of the baseline and turn from defense to offense. Carlos is at his best when he can control the timing and pace of the match, and that was exactly what he was doing early in the second set. If you let him control, where every ball is at shoulder height and he hugs the baseline, he can use his skill to do what he wants with the ball. The key is to change things up. Throw him slices, off pace balls, change the height of shots, do anything to throw off his rhythm. At 3-0 Alcaraz, Sinner was not achieving this.
4-0 Alcaraz. A runaway train. Panic sets in. The panic from Sinner capped with a put away forehand volley dumped in the bottom of the net at break point, 0-3 down. At this point, I could put myself in Jannik’s head, with thoughts racing of, “how am I here right now?”. The frustration is understandably clear and evident, even if it is hard to tell from Sinner, ever calm. Alcaraz does such a great job of sensing the moment and pouncing. It is like a fighter that has someone on the ropes, and instead of backing off, he charges forward and throws more punches. After an extremely tight first set, Alcaraz takes the second 6-1. Alcaraz took the fans from loud and rowdy, to quiet and heading for the exits. It was a combination of gifts from Sinner, and Alcaraz’s ability to pounce, that won him this match. His game transcends all court surfaces, as his ability to dictate from the baseline takes over. Carlos takes Rome, with a forehand winner count of thirty, to only three from Jannik. I may have to change my French Open pick.
ATP Highlights From Rome:
Coming off of the biggest title of his career, Casper Ruud was picked clean by Jannik Sinner, 6-0, 6-1 in the round of 16. Shortly after the match, Ruud called Sinner's play “next level sh*t”.
Lorenzo Musetti continued his strong clay court swing, making the semifinals, before losing out to Alcaraz.
After reaching a career high number 55 in 2019, Jaume Munar of Spain has had a resurgence this year, culminating in a round of 16 finish in Rome.
WTA Highlights From Rome:
Jasmine Paolini became the first Italian woman to win the Italian Open in forty years, defeating Coco Goff 6-2, 6-2 in the final.
American qualifier Payton Stearns stormed all the way to the semifinals this week, making history on the way, becoming the first player in WTA history to win three straight third set tiebreakers.
Naomi Osaka made her first third round of a WTA 1000 event since 2021, marking an important stop on her comeback to the tour.
Credit: APN
Canadian Corner:
Bianca Andreescu had a solid week, winning two matches before dropping her round of 32 clash with #8 seed Qinwen Zhang.
Leylah Fernandez also lost her round of 32 match this week, 6-2, 6-2 to Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine.
There were no Canadian men in the round of 32 in Rome this week.
ATP Rankings Update:
Big Movers:
Carlos Alcaraz leapfrogged Alexander Zverev for the #2 spot after taking the title in Rome.
Alexander Bubalik jumped 25 spots to world #51.
After a nice run this week, Spaniard Jaume Munar moved up 8 spots to world #58.
WTA Rankings Update:
Big Movers:
Peyton Stearns jumped 14 spots this week to world #28 after her run to the semifinals in Rome.
Former U.S. Open Champion Emma Radacanu moved up 6 spots to #43 after making the round of 16 in Rome.
American Hailey Baptiste rocketed up 20 spots to #70 in the world.
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