2025 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Rome, Italy - Masters 1000

[El Dude]

We really are in a golden age of Italian players:
1. Sinner
8. Musetti
28. Berrettini
33. Cobolli
39. Arnaldi
44. Sonego
45. Darderi
66. Bellucci
94. Nardi
107. Fognini

When was the last time there were two Italians in the top 10 or 7 in the top 50? For awhile it was just Fognini and now we have three Italians who are better than Fognini ever was, with a few youngish guys who could theoretically be top 20 guys.

For comparison sake, going back in 10 year increments:

2015: Fognini 21, Bolelli 58
2005: Volandri 38, Sanguinetti 44, Seppi 68, Bracciali 81
1995: Gaudenzi 22, Furlan 29, Pescosolido 68
1985: Cancelloti 58, C Panatta 92
1975: A Panatta 14, Barazzutti 40, Bertolucci 57, Zugarelli 90

 

[mrzz]

What an absolute twat! If it was hard to get "free" points today, how about you just earn them, then? So much complaining, but to say that Mussetti depends on the mistakes of his opponents is a dick-move. Then you're not just blaming the surface and the balls, but you're downgrading your opponent. Who beat you. With better tennis. Plus, he's younger and more handsome. That must really chap the vain, whiny Zed. So DONE with him!

I am not really a fan myself, almost from day one, but... I haven't seen a direct quote of him saying that Musetti depends on other people's mistakes. From the direct quotes I've seen (both on @MargaretMcAleer 's post and elsewhere, he just says that he plays aggressive tennis, which is fair enough. He is indeed making excuses, which is deplorable, but I don't see evidence of him going as far as directly downplaying his opponent.

 

[mrzz]

1. Sinner
8. Musetti
28. Berrettini
33. Cobolli
39. Arnaldi
44. Sonego
45. Darderi
66. Bellucci
94. Nardi
107. Fognini

1. Sinner. - Austrian
8. Musetti - One Handed Backhand, it trumps being Italian
28. Berrettini - Won't be there for much longer
33. Cobolli - Haven't seen him yet
39. Arnaldi - doesn't curse enough to be Italian
44. Sonego - has a second career as a pop singer, singing those atrocities that end up on San Remo, one of the things I hate most in the whole word. Definitely Italian, definitely part of an Italy I hate. Please god nuke San Remo
45. Darderi - Haven't seen him yet
66. Bellucci - he stole the name from Brazilian Thomas Bellucci.
94. Nardi - Haven't seen him yet
107. Fognini - greatest prima donna of all times

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I am not really a fan myself, almost from day one, but... I haven't seen a direct quote of him saying that Musetti depends on other people's mistakes. From the direct quotes I've seen (both on @MargaretMcAleer 's post and elsewhere, he just says that he plays aggressive tennis, which is fair enough. He is indeed making excuses, which is deplorable, but I don't see evidence of him going as far as directly downplaying his opponent.

Google "The Tennis Letter" which is a tennis blog that always appears on X formerly Twitter, it has Zverev saying that Lorenzo Musetti depends a lot on mistakes from his opponents, thats where I got his remarks from, also complaining about the balls etc and it was hard to hit a winner etc
BTW they both hit 20 winners in that match
I am over him full stop, he has a excuse for every time he loses.
BTW I should have posted the source which was 'The Tennis Letter" I usually do, with other quotes, I didnt this time
Also another tennis blog "Tennis Infinity" also has the same comments from Zverev, saying that Musetti depends a lot of mistakes from his opponents, they published his comments today on their blog..Tennis Infinity also posts on X formely Twitter

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

1. Sinner. - Austrian
8. Musetti - One Handed Backhand, it trumps being Italian
28. Berrettini - Won't be there for much longer
33. Cobolli - Haven't seen him yet
39. Arnaldi - doesn't curse enough to be Italian
44. Sonego - has a second career as a pop singer, singing those atrocities that end up on San Remo, one of the things I hate most in the whole word. Definitely Italian, definitely part of an Italy I hate. Please god nuke San Remo
45. Darderi - Haven't seen him yet
66. Bellucci - he stole the name from Brazilian Thomas Bellucci.
94. Nardi - Haven't seen him yet
107. Fognini - greatest prima donna of all times

Sinner came fron Innichen, or San Candido, northernmost part of Italy, which is not far from the Austrian border, so he isnt really Austrian
I am still claiming him as Italian, even though I was born way down south of Italy, in Sicily, people said many years ago we werent really Romans lol! more Mafia

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sinner 5-0 in 20 minutes, 4 points lost
Good God I wasnt expecting that
1st set 60 over Ruud only dropped 7 points all set
Jannik was unplayable

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sinner was just 'flawless' 60 61 over Ruud
First time in the Open Era that Italy has 2 men in the SF at Roma, Sinner and Musetti! at Masters Level
Sono Cosi Orgoglioso !!

 

[El Dude]

I guess Sinner is...back.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I guess Sinner is...back.

I am still in shock lol! I hope he hasnt peaked too soon in Rome, the one thing I liked is his mentality, earlier matches he was 'clutch mentally when he had to, that hasnt diminished after his 3 months off the tour
I will be surprised if he plays Hamburg next week

 

[don_fabio]

I guess Sinner is...back.

Yes, back to giving tennis lessons free of charge.

 

[don_fabio]

Another Sinner Alcaraz match is long overdue, though Musetti might not agree and maybe he has a little of a chance there? I can't see Paul taking down Sinner on home ground and recently blessed by the Pope.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Another Sinner Alcaraz match is long overdue, though Musetti might not agree and maybe he has a little of a chance there? I can't see Paul taking down Sinner on home ground and recently blessed by the Pope.

I dont see why being blessed by the Pope has anything to do with Sinner's performance, whatever! lol! Divine Intervention

 

[don_fabio]

I am still in shock lol! I hope he hasnt peaked too soon in Rome, the one thing I liked is his mentality, earlier matches he was 'clutch mentally when he had to, that hasnt diminished after his 3 months off the tour
I will be surprised if he plays Hamburg next week

Yes, this scoreline when you take all into account, Sinner's absence and Ruud's clay pedigree, it's just ruthless.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Yes, this scoreline when you take all into account, Sinner's absence and Ruud's clay pedigree, it's just ruthless.

I am still in shock I didnt expect that at all Don, I will take it though he was on another level all match

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I'm not really surprised that Sinner came back without missing a beat. If there's one player that can do it, it's him. Remember, he came back from the pandemic after missing 6 months (at age 18.5-19) and he took his game to the next level, making the quarterfinals of the 2020 French Open, then winning his first title the following month.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I'm not really surprised that Sinner came back without missing a beat. If there's one player that can do it, it's him. Remember, he came back from the pandemic after missing 6 months (at age 18.5-19) and he took his game to the next level, making the quarterfinals of the 2020 French Open, then winning his first title the following month.

As I posted to you in the post regarding RG this year, Sinner on clay has been a work in progress, go back and look at the post and what rounds he played after the QFs at RG in 2020,? I am currently watching Gauff v Zheng match, not going back to the post at the moment and post here.
Okay his best result was 2024 SF
He made the 4th round in 2021, 2022, and lost in the 2nd round in 2023.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Casper Ruud on facing Sinner today,
"It was like playing a wall that shoots hundred-mile an-hour balls at you all the time".
( source tennisnow.com.)

 

[mrzz]

Sinner came fron Innichen, or San Candido, northernmost part of Italy, which is not far from the Austrian border, so he isnt really Austrian
I am still claiming him as Italian, even though I was born way down south of Italy, in Sicily, people said many years ago we werent really Romans lol! more Mafia

For my old Italian father anyone from Friuli, Alto Adige or Veneto Is Austrian. By the way, for him you are Moroccan!!!!!

 

[Moxie]

I dont see why being blessed by the Pope has anything to do with Sinner's performance, whatever! lol! Divine Intervention

Says the woman who believes that her rosary beads blessed by the Pope can influence the outcome of a tennis match.

 

[Moxie]

For my old Italian father anyone from Friuli, Alto Adige or Veneto Is Austrian. By the way, for him you are Moroccan!!!!!

Your father can't be THAT old...it's been a part of Italy for more than a hundred years. Italy has only been a country for 163 years, so that makes it very Italian. And Sinner is clearly Italian. I also know what northern Italians say about southerners and Sicilians, and he didn't say "Moroccan." I know you're kidding, though.