The Italy Tennis Federation president has directly addressed speculation about a supposed protocol breach involving world number one Jannik Sinner and Italy's President Sergio Mattarella at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, confirming that the on-court trophy presentation was entirely spontaneous—and that it symbolized a moment of national pride as Sinner became the first Italian to lift the home trophy in half a century.
Why This Matters
• Historic milestone: Sinner ended a 50-year drought since Adriano Panatta's 1976 victory, completing a "Career Golden Masters" at age 24.
• Rankings dominance: With 14,700 points, Sinner now leads Carlos Alcaraz by 2,740 points and is guaranteed to remain world number one through Wimbledon.
• Symbolic unity: The unscripted ceremony featuring Mattarella and Panatta turned a sporting triumph into a cultural moment, bridging generations and institutions.
• Roland Garros contender: Sinner enters the French Open as a leading contender, having swept Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome—and with Alcaraz sidelined by injury.
No Rift, Only Emotion
Angelo Binaghi, president of the Federazione Italiana Tennis e Padel (FITP), used an appearance on Rai Radio 1's Radio Anch'io Sport to squash rumors of any tension between Sinner and Italy's head of state. "There was never any rift between Jannik Sinner and Sergio Mattarella," Binaghi said. "It was I who, without anything being pre-planned, convinced the President of the Republic to come onto the court to present the trophy in the minute immediately after Jannik's victory."
The FITP chief explained that he felt the weight of the occasion demanded the highest honor. "Every Italian would have wanted him to present the trophy to Sinner," Binaghi said. "I told him that Jannik, too, would be deeply moved to receive it from him. The President thought for a moment, then walked onto the court. I believe it was an enormous gift for Jannik, for us, for the crowd, and for all Italians."
The moment was especially poignant given the historical context. Sinner's 6-4, 6-4 victory over Norway's Casper Ruud on the red clay of the Foro Italico ended a 50-year wait for an Italian champion at the home tournament. The last was Adriano Panatta, who triumphed in 1976—the same year that ignited Italy's enduring love affair with tennis.
Panatta's Embrace and a Paris Challenge
Panatta himself was on court to hand Sinner the trophy, creating a visual "passing of the torch" that resonated across generations. The 73-year-old Roman legend embraced Sinner and issued a playful challenge: "I'm waiting for you in Paris—I want to present you the trophy there, too," Panatta said as he left the Centrale court.
Sinner responded with a smile and a cautious "let's hope," but the moment captured something larger than sport. "Seeing Jannik win at the Foro Italico has something special about it," Panatta said. "He's the strongest in the world, and for me, it's a source of pride to pass him the baton. Better than this it couldn't have gone—he's not just an extraordinary player, but an extraordinary young man."
Panatta reflected on his own 1976 triumph, which helped democratize tennis in Italy. "With my victories and those of the Davis Cup, tennis exploded and became popular—even people who couldn't afford it started playing. We opened it up for everyone, and no one can take that away from us," he said. "To find an Italian today capable of imposing himself with this personality and this game makes me very happy."
The Rome crowd understood the magnitude of the moment, erupting in applause not just for Sinner but also for Panatta, who was visibly moved by the ovation. "The Roman public knows how to recognize those who step onto the court with respect and character," Panatta added. "Even on the day of the Alto Adige champion's coronation, they didn't forget who made Italy great, just as Jannik has done today."
Presidential Sweep: Singles and Doubles
After presenting Sinner's trophy, President Mattarella also met with doubles champions Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, who had just won their own final. "Congratulations, very hard-fought," Mattarella said. "And at home, too," Bolelli replied. "Singles and doubles together, an en plein—just like last year," Mattarella observed. Bolelli smiled: "Last year it was the women's turn, this year it's ours."
The Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi took to social media to underscore the cultural weight of Sinner's achievement. "An immense athlete and a wonderful person: Sinner offers us a victory in Rome that reconciles us with history after 50 years, losing himself in the embrace with Panatta and 'his' trophy," Abodi wrote. "Jannik, once again, makes us go crazy with joy thanks to his talent and character, while preserving humanity, authenticity, respect, simplicity, and humility. He is the symbol of an Italy that knows how to move, grow, and inspire all generations through the most authentic values of sport—values that are put into practice. He's an example."
Career Golden Masters and a Strong Run
Sinner's Rome victory was no ordinary title. By conquering the Internazionali d'Italia, he became only the second man in history—after Novak Djokovic—to complete the Career Golden Masters, winning all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. At 24 years and 211 days, Sinner is the youngest ever to achieve this feat; Djokovic was 31.
The Italian has now won six consecutive Masters 1000 titles. His winning streak at the Masters 1000 level stands at an astonishing 34 consecutive matches.
Simone Vagnozzi, Sinner's coach, described the achievement as "incredible." "What he's been doing for several months now—to arrive in Rome with so much pressure and win—he's making history," Vagnozzi said after the final. "I started this adventure with Jannik in 2022, and I never would have thought that in such a short time he would achieve all these results. It's special. I'm proud. His mental strength is incredible. What he's been doing in the last two months is unbelievable."
Vagnozzi attributed the success to the team's ethos. "The secret of the team is that we are all people who do this work not because we're with the world number one, but because we love what we do," he said.
Rankings: Untouchable Until Wimbledon
Sinner's Rome triumph pushed his ATP points total to 14,700, extending his lead over the injured Carlos Alcaraz to 2,740 points. Alcaraz, the reigning Roland Garros champion and the man who defeated Sinner in an epic five-set final at the 2025 French Open, has been sidelined since April with a wrist injury and will miss the entire clay season, including Paris.
Even if Sinner were to fail to defend his points from last year's Roland Garros and Wimbledon campaigns, he would still hold a 3,240-point cushion over Alcaraz. That margin is insurmountable: even if the Spaniard returns in time to win both the Queen's Club Championships and Wimbledon, he cannot overtake the Italian before late summer. Sinner is therefore guaranteed to remain world number one through the grass-court season, extending his reign at the top to at least 72 weeks.
In the updated ATP rankings, Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic hold third and fourth, respectively. Ben Shelton climbed to fifth, displacing Felix Auger-Aliassime, who fell to sixth. Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, and Alexander Bublik round out the top 10. Other Italians in the top 20 include Lorenzo Musetti (11th), Flavio Cobolli (14th, down two spots), and Luciano Darderi (16th).
What This Means for Residents
For Italians, Sinner's dominance is a source of national pride that transcends sport. His consistency, humility, and work ethic have made him a unifying figure in a country often riven by regional and political divides. The spontaneous involvement of President Mattarella—a figure of constitutional neutrality—underscores how Sinner's success has become a shared cultural asset, not just a sporting achievement.
The economic ripple effects are also tangible. Tennis participation and viewership in Italy have surged since Sinner's rise, driving investment in facilities, coaching, and youth programs. Sponsorship deals and broadcast rights for Italian tennis events have reached record levels, benefiting both the FITP and local clubs.
Paris Beckons
Sinner has announced he will take a complete break from tennis for several days to recover before beginning preparations for the French Open, which begins at the end of May. He enters Roland Garros as a leading contender, having swept all three clay Masters 1000 titles this season—an achievement matched only by Rafael Nadal in 2010.
With Alcaraz absent, Sinner's path to his first French Open title appears promising. A victory in Paris would complete his achievements across the sport's major tournaments, adding the Coupe des Mousquetaires to his two Australian Open titles (2024, 2025), his US Open crown (2024), and his Wimbledon breakthrough (2025).
The only obstacle may be fatigue. Sinner faced physical difficulties during his rain-interrupted semi-final against Medvedev and required a medical timeout before prevailing over two days. His team has emphasized the importance of rest and recovery before the grueling best-of-five format at Roland Garros.
But if Panatta's playful challenge is any indication, the Italian tennis community is already looking forward to another historic moment—this time on the red clay of Paris, where Italy's enduring connection to tennis excellence may reach new heights.
