{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreifnfyeusv3x7ynlhfvxz64rttxzjvsxaz5k7c4f4kphpb752g7enq",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:g673g5qzb2lfjsjw4rzbkvsu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm62pnvg62e2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreiejgrgbdgpaz5dvn6pd3tboftoog5oqb2ypoh27hoist3gwoyuwvq"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 46853
  },
  "path": "/who-will-beat-jannik-sinner",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-18T17:55:08.000Z",
  "site": "https://defector.com",
  "tags": [
    "Tennis",
    "bhdtl >>>",
    "carlos alcaraz",
    "casper ruud",
    "daniil medvedev",
    "jannik sinner",
    "rome open",
    "tennis",
    "Nadal-like",
    "last year",
    "public execution",
    "gorgeous leaping backhands"
  ],
  "textContent": "For tennis fans who do not know how to be normal (i.e. me), rooting for Jannik Sinner is as comforting as it can get. There is an aspirational calmness in Sinner's rituals—not elaborate enough to be Nadal-like, but consistent enough to be a little Nadal-lite—that, though it can't eliminate fan neuroses, at least soothes them. He goes to the towel after making a poor error. One can count as he bounces the ball seven times on first serve (four bounces, a glance up at the opponent, then three more) and five times on second serve (three, glance, two). Also, at some point this year, he forgot how to lose.\n\nSinner beat Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 at the Rome Open on Sunday. It was his first-ever victory at his home tournament, following a loss to Alcaraz in the final last year. Sinner became the first Italian man to win the tournament since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago. He also became: the second- and, at age 24, youngest-ever man to win the full set of Masters 1000s (Novak Djokovic did it first, at age 31); the first to win six straight Masters 1000s; the second ever to sweep the three clay court Masters (after Nadal), and the first ever to win the Sunshine Double _and_ sweep the clay court Masters in a year. These are records that feel more impressive with more investment in the sport, but he also has some numbers that are easier to understand: He has a 29-match win streak. In that time period, he has lost three sets, by scores of 7-6(3), 7-6(6), and 7-5.\n\nThe last time Sinner played Ruud in Rome, it was effectively a public execution. The final on Sunday was a different story: Sinner started the match looking as nervous as he gets, usually a quality reserved in response to Carlos Alcaraz. He missed his first seven first serves and went for huge margins, pumping what would normally be comfortable put-away forehands down the center of the court instead of into the corners. Ruud got off to an early break, which was already a better start than last year's match, then Sinner immediately broke back by cracking a backhand down the line. As the match progressed, Sinner settled down. He delivered a feast of gorgeous leaping backhands. His first serve percentage crept back up above 60 percent. After he hit an even better backhand down the line to open the second set with a break, the match lay securely in his hands.",
  "title": "Who Will Beat Jannik Sinner?"
}