Sinner on Rome run: 'I am closer than expected'

Rome

Sinner on Rome run: 'I am closer than expected'

Italian lost to Alcaraz in straight sets in Rome final

TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images Jannik Sinner's 26-match winning streak was ended by Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday in Rome. By Sam Jacot

Jannik Sinner’s 26-match winning streak came to an end on Sunday at the hands of Carlos Alcaraz, but the Italian is taking the positives from his final run at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on his return to the Tour.

The No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings was competing for the first time since winning the Australian Open in January and earned five victories in Rome.

“First set for sure was a little bit of a game-changer. But talking generally, [I am] very happy about this tournament,” Sinner said. “It gives me hopefully confidence to play some good tennis also in Paris. Let's see what's coming out there.

“But after three months, coming here, making this result means a lot to me, a lot to my team also. We worked a lot to be here. Happy also with my family and everything.”

Sinner was bidding for his fifth ATP Masters 1000 crown and his first in Rome. Backed by a passionate home crowd on Campo Centrale, he pushed Alcaraz in a tight opening set before fading in the second.

Alcaraz, a seven-time Masters 1000 champion, now leads the Italian 7-4 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“It's something very, very special playing here in Italy, in Rome,” Sinner said. “They pick me up like a small child. The support was amazing. For sure there are some things we saw today that we have to improve if we want to do well in Paris.

“I am closer than expected in a way of everything. But in the other way, it was good. It was a great week for me. Some matches incredibly well, some matches could be better. But this is tennis. It's a lot of ups and downs.”

Now 12-1 on the season according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, and sitting second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, the 23-year-old will shift his focus to Roland Garros, where he will aim to capture his fourth major title and his first on clay.

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