Jannik Sinner in Rome has a'special requirement before debut

Jannik Sinner has been in Rome since Monday, fully prepared for his Internazionali d’Italia debut scheduled for Saturday, May 9, against either Sebastian Ofner or Alex Michelsen. As early as Wednesday and Thursday, the various preparatory stages for the big event, which could lead him to win his sixth consecutive Masters 1000 at home, further improving the record he has already set with his fifth. There is, however, one aspect of his arrival in the capital that has already attracted the attention of his fans and others.

As confirmed by ‘Il Messaggero,’ during the Internazionali d’Italia Sinner’s lodging will be at the Hotel Roma Cavalieri, which is located above Monte Mario and therefore not far from the Foro Italico. However, the Capitoline newspaper also added a rule set by the South Tyrolean’s staff: any photo cannot be published or spread via social media in the 24 hours immediately following the shot. A request attributed to the ATP number 1 ranking himself, intent on not being distracted more than necessary in the days leading up to his debut at a Masters 1000 that he wants to conquer by further following up on his legendary string already underway.

At the Foro Italico, Sinner has not arrived alone: by his side is also his girlfriend Laila Hasanovic, the gorgeous Danish model who had already followed him during the Monte Carlo tournament he won in April, but who had remained absent in Madrid due to work commitments related to fashion shows and events. Her presence in the stands is eagerly awaited by fans of the South Tyrolean, who consider her a real good luck charm for the champion. The couple is staying together in the five-star hotel chosen by the staff, and the confidentiality that marks their relationship fits perfectly with the strict image management rules imposed for this week.

On a sporting level, the stakes in Rome go far beyond just the title. Sinner currently has 28 consecutive Masters 1000 wins and, as former U.S. tennis player Sam Querrey pointed out in his podcast ‘Nothing Major Show,’ Novak Djokovic’s all-time record of 31 is concretely within reach. “Sinner will surpass Djokovic’s record,” Querrey said. “He needs four wins in Rome and Djokovic is on Zverev’s side of the board. He is by far the best player in the world. Without Carlos Alcaraz, who should beat him? I don’t see anyone capable of stopping him in Rome.” Before Djokovic, with three wins Sinner would also overtake Roger Federer, currently second in this special ranking.

The absence of Alcaraz, who was forced to miss the Internazionali d’Italia and Roland Garros due to a wrist injury, also weighs significantly on the ATP ranking front. Sinner leads the ranking with 14,350 points, with an already substantial margin over the Spaniard. In the worst possible scenario for the Italian, i.e., an elimination in the second round, the lead over Alcaraz would still rise to 1,750 points; if he wins the tournament, the gap would reach 2,740. It should be remembered that Sinner has yet to win the title in Rome in his career, with his best result represented by the 2025 final, lost to Alcaraz himself.

There is no shortage of critical voices about the increasingly overwhelming dominance of the Italian. Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach, expressed surprise at the supremacy shown by Sinner in the Madrid final against Alexander Zverev: “It’s not normal for a final to be over in less than an hour, especially if the world number 1 and number 3 are playing each other: Zverev came onto the court already beaten.” Nadal himself has also proposed changing the rules of tennis to make it more spectacular, suggesting the use of smaller rackets to reduce the power of strokes and reintroduce more strategy into the game.

Among those most impressed by Sinner’s exploits is Matteo Berrettini, who could cross paths with his compatriot as early as the third round of the tournament, after overcoming Australia’s Popyrin in the first. The Roman, a friend and colleague of the South Tyrolean, did not hide his astonishment: “From the outside it is inexplicable what he is doing. After all, no one had ever done it. We also ran out of words to describe him because he gets certain results with apparent ease.” In the other half of the scoreboard, however, is Lorenzo Musetti, the No. 8 seed, who could only challenge Sinner in a possible final.