ATP Tour

Sinner stops Rome practice for Bocelli reunion: 'You hit so hard!'

Jannik Sinner is firmly focused on completing the Career Golden Masters at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, but the World No. 1 still found time for a special reunion during practice on Saturday in Rome.

Sinner greeted renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli courtside, hopping the fence mid-session to exchange a few words with the singer. Sinner and Bocelli collaborated last year on the song “Polvere e Gloria” (“Dust and Glory”).

“I didn’t know how long you were staying, so I came to say ‘Hi’,” Sinner said to Bocelli, who then joked: “What’s in your racquet? You hit so hard.”

Following his practice, Sinner went on to win his opening match against Sebastian Ofner and ignite his quest to become the first Italian men's singles champion in Rome since Adriano Panatta in 1976.

Bocelli returned to the Foro Italico on Sunday to watch another Italian, Lorenzo Musetti, fight past Francisco Cerundolo to reach the fourth round.

Sinner is chasing his first title at the Italian ATP Masters 1000 event. Should he lift the trophy, the 24-year-old would become just the second man after Novak Djokovic to complete the Career Golden Masters. The top seed will continue his campaign against Alexei Popyrin in the third round on Monday.

Sinner is riding a 24-match winning streak and could eclipse his previous-best run of 26 victories by reaching the semi-finals in Rome. The Italian is also pursuing a sixth consecutive Masters 1000 crown after titles in Paris last year, and at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo and Madrid in 2026.