Has any homegrown player won men's singles title at Italian Open?

Jannik Sinner is one victory away from becoming only the second Italian male to triumph on home soil.

Italy has long been a powerhouse in tennis, known for producing top-tier talent and hosting one of the most prestigious events on the ATP calendar — the Italian Open. Held at the iconic Foro Italico, the tournament has seen the sport’s greatest champions thrive on its clay courts. Chief among them is the ‘King of Clay’, Rafael Nadal, who holds the record with an astounding 10 titles in Rome.

Meanwhile, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic follows the Spaniard with six titles and has played more matches at the Italic than anyone else (78). However, for some reason, very few local favourites have managed to emerge victorious at the Italian Open.

Adriano Panatta, a French Open winner and the only man to have ever beaten Bjorn Borg at the Roland Garros, remains as of now the only Italian to have triumphed on home soil.

In 1976, Panatta overcame a slow start, and defeated Guillermo Vilas in four sets. He came close in 1978, finishing as a runner-up, going down to Bjorn Borg in a five-setter epic. The only final appearance from another player came in 1977, when Antonio Zugarelli was crushed by America’s Vitas Gerulaitis in four.

Also Read: Italian Open: Full list of title winners

In the Open Era, Italy has seen just one men’s singles title won by a homegrown player, with only two additional final appearances until now. Jannik Sinner has already made history by breaking a 75-year wait to reach the final in Rome and will be aiming to etch his name in the record books with a win over Carlos Alcaraz.

However, the task ahead is far from easy. The Spaniard enters the final in blistering form and has held the upper hand in the duo’s past encounters, leading the head-to-head 6–4. Alcaraz is also riding a three-match winning streak against Sinner, including a pivotal win at the ATP Finals.

Still, Sinner has been nearly unstoppable in 2025, currently on a sensational 26-match winning streak. Fittingly, the last player to defeat him was none other than Alcaraz—setting the stage for an epic battle in Rome.

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