Sinner shrugs off blister pain as he targets perfect end to comeback tounament in Rome
The world No 1 takes on big rival Carlos Alcaraz in the final on Sunday, his first event back after a three-month doping ban
Inside / Psnewz
Jannik Sinner was visibly limping at times in his semi-final win over Tommy Paul on Friday but the Italian says he’s not concerned about it as he tries to end his comeback tournament on a high by beating Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Rome Masters on Sunday.
The world No 1, back after a three-month doping ban – though authorities accepted he did not intentionally cheat – had to fight a determined opponent in Paul and himself through the pain of a blister on his foot and muscle fatigue as he reached the final for the first time.
Unbeaten in 2025, the Italian faces Carlos Alcaraz for the title and is confident he will be ready, physically and mentally.
“Physically? I hope to recover in the best possible way,” he told reporters. “Since a couple of matches a blister under the foot, which then some other muscles, they work. I’m not concerned about my leg. Hopefully the blister is going to be healed as fast as possible.
“But in any case, as I said, there are no excuses, no? I’m in the final. I give it the best I have Sunday, then we see what’s coming.”
“It’s a great test to see where I am”
Sinner trails Alcaraz 6-4 in their 10 battles on Tour, including each of their three meetings in 2024. Taking on the Spaniard, he said, would be the perfect test of where his form is at as he heads to the French Open later this month.
“We know each other quite well now,” he said, with typical understatement. “It’s always special to share the court with him. I feel like we both know how to play against each other a little bit, so we have to be prepared tactically. Of course, small things are going to be changed.
“But it’s just a great test for me to see where I am. It’s great for me to play against Carlos before the two Grand Slams. That for me is good because I see where I have to improve, what I have to do better.
“Hopefully it’s going to be a good match. I feel like this is the most important part. Yeah, but in any case what’s coming out Sunday, (it’s been) a great tournament from my side, making such a run here, it feels good.”
