Jannik Sinner ‘Cared’ About Winning Italian Open Like Grand Slam Event: “There’s a High Level of Tension”

Jannik Sinner wanted to win the Italian Open so badly, like a Grand Slam event, revealed Italian Tennis and Padel Federation’s (FITP) Gianni Milan. Sinner registered a 6-4, 6-4 win over Casper Ruud in the final, becoming the first Italian man since Adriano Panatta in 1976 to win this title.

The win helped Sinner improve his head-to-head record over the Norwegian ace to 5-0 and his winning streak in Masters 1000s to 34 matches. The 24-year-old is also the first man to win six consecutive Masters 1000s, with his last defeat at this level being his third-round exit in last year’s Shanghai Masters due to his mid-match retirement.

If you remember, Sinner was broken at the start of the final against Ruud; he didn’t put a first serve in, so you could clearly see he was in a state of total tension. This guy deserves credit for that, too, because he really cared about this tournament practically as much as a Grand Slam. For him, it was a huge deal.

Gianni Milan said on The Fox podcast

Then Milan revealed what Sinner’s agent Alex Vittur told him during the Italian Open. Vittur was concerned because he had never seen Sinner like this, even in a Grand Slam tournament.

Jannik cared about this tournament basically like a Slam. It was very important. I talked with his manager, and he told me, ‘Gianni, I’m worried because I’ve never seen him like this. Not even in Slams. There’s a high level of tension, I hope he can get himself out of this (situation.)

Gianni Milan added

It was in Rome that Sinner made his comeback last year after his three-month doping ban. He reached the final but fell in straight sets to Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner, now a four-time champion on clay, will next be aiming to complete the Career Grand Slam at the French Open, where Alcaraz defeated him in five sets in the final.

Mats Wilander shares how Alexander Zverev can defeat Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner has been so dominant that only a handful of players have managed to take a set off him, one of whom is Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals. Sinner last lost a match against Jakub Mensik in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open, and since then, he has clinched the Indian Wells Masters, Miami Open, Monte-Carlo Masters, Madrid Open, and the Italian Open.

Sinner suffered from physical discomfort during the semifinal and is in need of proper rest before starting his bid for the French Open. In the absence of two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev should seize the opportunity, believes Mats Wilander.

But Sascha lost nine consecutive matches against the four-time Grand Slam champion. Wilander still thinks Zverev can beat a tired Sinner in a long match.

Alcaraz’s absence opens up opportunities, and Zverev is one of the biggest beneficiaries. If you keep putting yourself in that position, the day will come eventually [to win a Grand Slam] with the right conditions, the right opponent, and a bit of luck. Perfect conditions, a tough court, long matches, and a tired Sinner.

Mats Wilander told Eurosport

Zverev was the finalist in Paris in 2024, losing a five-set battle to Alcaraz. The three-time Grand Slam finalist has not yet lifted a title since the 2025 Munich Open.

The French Open is set to start on May 24th. And Alcaraz won’t be playing because of a wrist injury he suffered during the Barcelona Open. The seven-time Grand Slam champion, in fact, withdrew from Wimbledon, where he played the finals in the previous three seasons, winning in 2023 and 2024, and losing in 2025 to Sinner.

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