Preview & Pick: Jannik Sinner looks to grow legacy in Rome final clash with Casper Ruud

Jannik Sinner vs. Casper Ruud

“At the end of the day, he’s human; I have to think that way as much as I can,” Ruud said of Sinner when he was asked how he would approach a final against the Italian on Sunday.

As true and rational as that statement is, it also might be hard for Ruud in particular to make himself believe it. Not only is Sinner No. 1 in the world; not only is he on an historical win streak at Masters 1000s; not only will the crowd be fully and loudly behind him: On top of all of that, there seems to be something about Ruud’s game that brings out the very best in Sinner.

They’ve played four times, and Ruud has yet to win a set. Worse, he’s not getting closer. In their last two meetings, he earned a total of four games. When they met in Rome a year ago, Sinner won 6-0, 6-1 in a performance as dominant as any in his career so far. Ruud’s topspin ground strokes and kick serve, usually potent weapons, were just fodder for Sinner to tee off on.

Unfortunately for Ruud, he hasn’t forgotten.

“Last year, I was blown out of the court by him,” he said. “We’ll both remember it. I hope that’s not the case [on Sunday]. I’ll try to stay in my lane, stay focused on the things I’m doing well. I know that against him, you have to raise your level two or three times to hang with him.”

Against anyone else, Ruud would likely be happy with his current level, and the way it has progressed over the last two weeks. A former world No. 2 and two-time Roland Garros runner-up, the 27-year-old came to Rome as something of an afterthought in the clay conversation this year. He was ranked 25th, and had a 12-9 record on the season. But he has made his way through a series of higher-ranked opponents—Lehecka, Musetti, Khachanov, Darderi—to reach his first final at the Foro Italico.

Game-wise, Ruud is a major underdog. But he does have one thing he can cling to: Sinner’s shaky fitness this week.

We know that he can struggle with cramps in high heat and humidity. In Rome, though, the temperatures have been moderate, but he has still been gasping for breath on changeovers, making odd errors, and trying to end points abnormally quickly. So far, the man known as the Fox has survived, as he usually do. But Ruud will know that if he can remain steady—stay in his lane, as he says—and make Sinner work, there could be benefits as the match moves along.

The question is, can he keep Sinner from ending the rallies early, and running away with the match before his physical issues arise? I’m betting he can’t. Sinner is human, but he’s the best human on a tennis court right now. Winner: Sinner