Top seed Jannik Sinner added yet another chapter to his remarkable career when he defeated Casper Ruud in straight sets to claim his 2026 Italian Open trophy in Rome.
The world number one won a convincing 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday’s final at the Foro Italico in his hometown of Rome, becoming the first Italian man to win the prestigious event in 50 years.
More importantly, Sinner managed to collect the ninth and final Masters 1000 title to become only the second player in the Open Era history after Novak Djokovic to achieve the rare Career Golden Masters.
Sinner Defeats Ruud To Claim First Career Golden Masters
Sinner was the overwhelming favorite entering the final in Rome after dominating the clay court tennis season until then.
The Italian player controlled the final encounter with his typical aggressive play from the baseline and excellent accuracy.
Ruud did not manage to find the right rhythm and to deal with Sinner’s powerful groundstrokes.
The victory increased Sinner’s perfect head-to-head record against Ruud to 5-0 and left the Norwegian without a single set won over the Italian in their five previous encounters.
This was also Sinner’s sixth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 championship.
An Italian Player’s First Italian Open Title in Over 50 Years
The win at the Italian Open is especially historic for Italian players as it marked the end of a long drought after 50 years since Adriano Panatta won in Rome.
Thousands of passionate fans were celebrating one of the best moments in their country’s tennis history as Sinner claimed the Italian Open crown in front of his home fans at the Foro Italico.
Also, Italian President Sergio Mattarella attended Sinner’s victory ceremony as well, which only highlighted the importance of the moment.
Incredible 2026 Season for Sinner
After winning his fourth consecutive tournament at the ATP Tour in 2026, Sinner continued to dominate tennis tournaments across the globe.
Sinner won the Rome trophy for the second time, and it is important to mention that before this success, he managed to win the other eight ATP Masters 1000 tournaments during the season.
Also, Sinner broke Djokovic’s record of the longest Masters 1000 winning streak by extending his to 32 consecutive matches.
The Italian tennis star has now become the clear favorite for the French Open title, considering Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal due to an injury suffered in Rome.
Sinner’s Plans After Winning Italian Open Trophy
Sinner’s goal after winning in Rome was obvious since it was to conquer the Parisian Roland Garros and achieve the Career Grand Slam.
The Italian player will definitely remain one of the favorites to win the French Open trophy in 2026, as he managed to prove his superiority on both hard and clay courts.