Jannik Sinner continued his historic reign over men’s tennis on Sunday, capturing the 2026 Rome Masters title with a dominant 6-4, 6-4 victory over Casper Ruud. With this win, Sinner broke a 50-year drought to become the first Italian man to lift the trophy at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
However, alongside the broken records and a flood of congratulations from rivals like Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, it was Sinner’s post-match reflections on a heartwarming pre-match tradition that truly stole the hearts of fans worldwide.
Entering Tennis Immortality: The Career Golden Masters
Sinner’s flawless performance on the red clay didn’t just break a national drought—it rewrote international tennis history.
- The Golden Masters: At just 24 years old, Sinner became the youngest player ever, and only the second man in history alongside Novak Djokovic, to complete the “Career Golden Masters.” He has now won all nine elite Masters 1000 tournaments on the ATP calendar.
- The Elite Nine: His historic trophy cabinet now includes Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Toronto/Montreal, Cincinnati, Shanghai, and Paris.
- The Winning Streak: The victory over Ruud extended Sinner’s jaw-dropping ATP Masters 1000 winning streak to an incredible 33 matches.
A Tradition That Puts Sport in Perspective
Throughout the Italian Open, the Italian Tennis Federation partnered with Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The initiative allowed young patients from the hospital’s cancer department to walk out onto Center Court alongside the world’s best players.
Following his victory, Sinner spoke emotionally about the profound impact of sharing his walkout with a very young patient.
“Tennis players don’t realize the luck we have,” Sinner reflected in his post-match interview. “We see kids with problems, and they light up so much with the tiniest gestures. It changes your perspective. Today the boy was very small and I had to go slower when entering the court, but it was beautiful. They’re moments that make me happy.”
Sinner’s natural warmth with the children was visible throughout the tournament. Ahead of the semifinals, a viral moment occurred when Daniil Medvedev offered his hand to a young girl waiting in the tunnel. The girl politely declined because she was eagerly waiting specifically for Sinner. Medvedev smiled and walked out with his assigned mascot, while the young girl began jumping up and down with pure joy the moment Sinner emerged.
The Luciano Darderi Controversy and Apology
Sinner’s mindful connection with the young mascots stood in stark contrast to an incident days prior involving fellow Italian player Luciano Darderi.
Before his semifinal match against Casper Ruud, Darderi faced severe social media backlash after a video showed him completely ignoring his assigned child mascot. Wearing bold, blue-tinted sunglasses, Darderi strutted straight onto the court, leaving a young girl to awkwardly jog behind him. Fans heavily criticized the gesture, calling it disrespectful given the severe health struggles the participating children face.
Darderi subsequently issued a public apology on his Instagram Story, attributing the oversight to intense pre-match nerves.
“I am so sorry for not shaking Camilla’s hand,” Darderi wrote. “It was an unintentional gesture, in a moment of great concentration and tension. Anyone who knows me understands how much I value the human connection with fans and respect for all the people who are part of this sport.”
Ruud, who warmly greeted the children before that semifinal, went on to defeat Darderi 6-1, 6-1 to book his spot in the final. In a classy move by tournament officials, Camilla was later invited back to Center Court to participate in the official coin toss for the final match.
Looking Ahead to Roland Garros
With the clay-court Masters season officially wrapped up, the tennis world turns its attention to Paris. Jannik Sinner will enter Roland Garros as the undeniable tournament favorite and top seed. Meanwhile, both Casper Ruud and Luciano Darderi will look to reset, with both players positioned comfortably within the top 20 seeds for the second Grand Slam of the year.