Sinner in the final in Rome in the footsteps of Panatta: the Foro has been waiting for an Italian since 1976
At the Foro Italico today at 5pm the final of Sinner against Casper Ruud. Fifty years ago Panatta's victory in Rome against Guillermo Vilas. It will be Panatta himself who will award the winner
by Eliana Di Caro
Jannik Sinner is in the final in Rome, and immediately the amarcord is triggered: fifty years ago at the Foro Italico Adriano Panatta triumphed in an epic final with Guillermo Vilas. It was 30 May '76, a sunny day, and Italians have been waiting to celebrate an Italian champion ever since. Sinner has won everywhere, the one at the Foro Italico is the only Masters 1000 he is missing (last year he lost in the final to Carlos Alcaraz), today he faces Casper Ruud with whom he has won all four direct clashes: the last one right here, last year, in the quarters (it ended 6-0, 6-1).
That year Panatta's success at the Internazionali anticipated that of Paris and then the Davis Cup in Chile: an unrepeatable phase. Those were times when you played three out of five, everything was much slower and more enjoyable (however tiring), not only there was no internet and social media but not even commercial TV. Adriano won in a comeback, in four sets, 2-6, 7-6, 6-2, 7-6: the final embrace with Mario Belardinelli - the technical director of the Federation - returns in the various images that bounce on the sites, as does the interview that Gianni Minà gives him on the court. Today the players have numerous teams, agents, bodyguards, they are unapproachable.
Sinner said yesterday in a press conference that 'there is a lot of tension', the discomfort during the semi-final with Medvedev is there to witness it, expectations are high. Two years ago he did not play because of a hip problem, in 2023 - the breakthrough year in his career, which propelled him into the top five - he went out in the round of 16 with Cerundolo. In this 2026 that started badly, with the defeat at the Australian Open (at the hands of Djokovic) where he was defending champion, he has won four consecutive Mille, the last two on clay (Monte Carlo and Madrid).
Today on the red rectangle of the centre there will be Adriano Panatta (who became world number 4 in '76) to award the winner. 'I hope to finally celebrate the victory of an Italian,' he said. And we with him.
