Before the start of the 2025 Italian Open, Jannik Sinner claimed, “It’s a very, very low-expectation tournament in general for me.” However, making his sixth appearance in his home tournament, Sinner has now already reached the SF without even dropping a set! In the semis, he’ll face America’s Tommy Paul, who’s entering this contest following a victory against the former world number 6. While sharing his thoughts about the most challenging this when playing against the Italian, Paul said that despite being away from the Tour for three months due to suspension, Sinner hasn’t looked “rusty” at all. “Already in his first match, he showed a good level, and it seems like he keeps improving. His great virtue is not only hitting the ball harder and more consistently than others, but he is capable of generating a lot of power out of nowhere.” The American also hailed him as the “best hitter” on the Tour. Can he now overcome this massive challenge in his next match?
Jannik Sinner vs Tommy Paul: Preview
Unstoppable Sinner! The 23-year-old Italian star is yet to lose a match this season. Jannik Sinner started this season by clinching the AO title, and then there was a brief pause, due to the suspension, and everyone wondered if he could regain his momentum. But Sinner proved all his doubters wrong with an incredible start in Rome. He literally thrashed the 2025 Madrid Open champion, Casper Ruud, in the QF match by 6-0,6-1. With that win, Sinner has won 11 consecutive matches against Top 10 opponents without losing a set. Staggering!
Interesting Fact: Jannik Sinner has claimed 24 straight sets against Top 10 players, surpassing Bjorn Borg’s record of 23 in 1978. He will be now chasing John McEnroe’s record of 28 (during the 1984 season).
Following this impressive victory, Sinner said, “It was an amazing match today from my side. Everything worked very, very well.” This was probably one of his best performances since making his comeback. Can she keep this winning run intact?
Aug 3, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Jannik Sinner (ITA) hits a backhand during practice at IGA Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Perhaps, the answer to this question lies in the hands of Tommy Paul, who is now entering his fourth SF of this season. Other than that, Paul had also reached the QF of the AO earlier this season. After defeating the Aussie star Alex de Minaur in the R16 by straight sets, Paul outclassed Hubert Hurkacz in the QF by 7-6(4),6-3. Following this victory, Paul spoke about how the conditions here favor his game perfectly, but at the same time, he highlighted his flaws from the previous match, saying, “I want to serve better, of course. I don’t want to reveal all my cards, but basically, I’ll need to do everything a little better than I’ve been doing.”
Sinner vs Paul: Head-to-Head
Jannik Sinner has crossed paths with Tommy Paul four times in his career so far. Sinner currently has a lead of 3-1 against the American and this will be their second meeting on clay!
2024 US Open R16: Sinner 7-6(3),7-6(5),6-1.
2023 ATP Masters 1000 Canada SF: Sinner 6-4,6-4.
2022 Eastbourne R16: Paul 6-3,3-6,6-3.
2022 ATP Masters 1000 Madrid R64: Sinner 6(4)-7,7-6(4),6-3.
Prediction: Sinner to win in straight sets
Considering the form he’s in at the moment, Jannik Sinner will now surely be eyeing to end the 49-year wait for an Italian winner of the men’s event in Rome. Adriano Panatta (1976) was the last home champion here. If we take a look at his staggering numbers from the 2025 season, Sinner has a win-loss record of 11-0, with 4-0 on clay. On the other hand, Tommy Paul has an overall record of 21-7, with 8-2 on clay. So, considering all these factors and the home support, I feel it’d be extremely difficult for someone like Paul (12) to get the better of the world number one in this epic battle.
Talking about their playing styles, Tommy Paul’s gameplay is characterized by a strong attacking forehand, solid footwork, and the ability to move swiftly to the net. He has a strong volley in his arsenal and can also generate a lot of power from the baseline. Paul is also known for his tactical acumen and powerful serves. He has already hit 157 aces this season!
Can his ace win the race against Sinner? Looks pretty much unlikely at the moment! Jannik Sinner’s playing style is characterized by his powerful and consistent groundstrokes, particularly his forehand and his excellent movement on the court. Sinner likes to take the ball on and strike it aggressively, as he is able to take massive cuts at the ball using his long levers. So, the Italian is more of an aggressive baseliner who is also smart about building points steadily. His spin-based hitting and neutral ball make it a bit difficult for his opponents to gain court positions. Taking all these aspects into account, I’m going for Sinner as the Winner in this SF clash!
The post Italian Open 2025: Jannik Sinner vs Tommy Paul; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction appeared first on EssentiallySports.