Sinner storms to fightback win to book Rome final

Jannik Sinner fought back after a first-set smack-down, with the world NO. 1 booking his place in a first final at the Rome Masters 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 over Tommy Paul on Friday.

Sinner needed a set to get untracked after his humiliation 24 hours earlier of double Roland Garros runner-up Casper Ruud 

But the world no. 1 who is playing his first event since winning the Australian Open exploded to win nine games in a row after his first-set shock to turn the momentum on its head.

While occasionally favouring a hamstring and a blister on his foot, the Italian top seed mounted his comeback to emerge into the Sunday final against Carlos Alcaraz.

The Spaniard reached the title match with a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Italian Lorenzo Musetti.

Sinner earned his 26th consecutive match win on his third match point, reaching the seventh Masters final of his career (4-2 record).

Alcaraz and Sinner last met in October in Beijing,with the Spaniard winning their last three.

“I’m very happy to be in the final,” Sinner said. “To win I will have to play my best tennis for sure. 

“But it’s incredible to be in the final for the first time here.”

SInner explained that his physical niggles will not be a problem on Sunday.

Since the third round I’ve had a small blister on my foot which doesn’t allow me to move in some circumstances.  I felt it today more than yesterday (when he lost just one came against Casper Ruud).

“My hamstring has also been a bit tight. But there are no excuses. I will be 100 per cent for the final – I’m not concerned.”

Sinner advanced in one and three-quarter hours, making a swift recovery after managing only two winners in the first set.

The world No. 1 had 17 winners and nearly twice as many unforced errors while breaking Paul five times out of 10.

“After the first  set I tried to stay mentally strong/ Conditions were very different, it was much colder and the ball was heavier.

“I struggled with that. When he broke me straightaway (second game of the match_ it was a punch in the face. “I tried to stay in there.

But things can change quickly. Today showed that every moment is crucial.”

Sinner is bidding to become the second Italian man to win the Rome title since Adriano Panatta (1976).