World No. 1 Jannik Sinner reflected on his loss in the final of the Rome Masters, where he was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz with a score of 6/7(5), 1/6.
Speaking at a press conference, Sinner commented, “Today was a valuable lesson. Sometimes things just didn`t go my way, like that forehand going out at 40-40. We played well, and our focus now is on getting off to a strong start in Paris. We prepared thoroughly for this match, just as planned. When I`m playing well, my game troubles Alcaraz, and when he`s playing well, his game troubles me. He managed some situations more effectively today. It`s tough to recover against players like him once your level drops even slightly. He moves better, and that`s something I need to work on, even during the Paris tournament. It takes time. However, considering this was my first tournament back, we`re in a good position.”
Following his defeat in the Rome final, Sinner also shared his expectations for the upcoming Roland Garros.
Regarding Roland Garros, he stated, “The situation in Paris was different last year. To elevate my game further, I need to adjust some things. Movement is certainly key, as is understanding court positioning, which differs slightly between hard courts and clay. Playing well against Carlos before a Grand Slam was a valuable test to gauge my current level on clay. We need to keep improving. Clay is the surface I find most challenging, and honestly, it`s my least favorite surface. However, reaching the final here was a positive outcome. I need to increase my intensity in Paris and sustain it for as long as I can.”
Sinner also reflected on his overall takeaways from the Rome tournament, which marked his return after a three-month break (interpreted as an injury break).
“It was an unbelievable experience,” he said of playing in Rome. “It`s always a pleasure to compete here; the support is incredible, they welcome me like a child. Naturally, today highlighted areas I need to work on to perform well in Paris. In many aspects, I feel I`m playing better than I anticipated. I had some genuinely fantastic matches, although others could have been better. That`s the nature of tennis, full of highs and lows. Overall, it was a very positive tournament.”
Gilbert Pendleton