Double reward up for grabs for Carlos Alcaraz this Thursday, nothing more and nothing less than the arrival in the semifinals of the Masters Cup and the number one he defends today and hopes to showcase next Monday; Doing so would mean that for the second time in his career he will end the year on top. “It’s always exciting, but thinking about it too much can play tricks on you,” he stressed after notching his second group stage win, Tuesday against Taylor Fritz. A third in the last match (8.30pm, Movistar+) would guarantee him the goal, even if Lorenzo Musetti will be in the middle, who has faith in his team: “I hope the public helps me perform the miracle”.
It roars at the Inalpi Arena, Italy vibrates with tennis. And, early in the morning, traffic on tram 4, heading to Sevastopol station, collapses. Long queues and fans filling the carriages. “Play Jannik,” slips one of them. Logically it refers to Sinner, the great national diamond; the ideal culmination of a laboratory work born more than a decade ago and which ended up hitting the target. The Rossoneri, winner of four majors, reached the top, and the coaches and managers of the federation raised their arms and celebrated: mission accomplished. The one in San Candido – classified thanks to the victory against Alexander Zverev, 6-4 and 6-3 – was the product exactly searched for.
The country had tradition, but success was limited. The Italians quickly recited the names of Adriano Panatta (Roland Garros and Davis Cup in 1976) and Nicola Pietrangelli (1959 and 1960), the two symbols, but when they talked about tennis they did so in a rather awkward manner. They, so passionate and rewarded with the soccerprofessional competitors in many sporting disciplines, needed an element very champion on the slopes. Then they resorted to their specialty: the method. Like the perfect coffee machines that shine in every café in the city, the system was nurtured and finally produced. First signs and then reality. Sinner arrived and, hand in hand, the fever rose.
“Why can there only be four Grand Slams?”, launched the president of the Italian Tennis and Paddle Federation (FITP), Angelo Binaghi, on the air in May. Such is the ambition, the euphoria that can be felt and reflected in the numbers. According to a report drawn up by FITP in 2024, the number of people who practice this sport today in the transalpine country amounts to five million and the number of enthusiasts who follow it is 16.9; that is, practically double compared to 2016; If the number of federated players in 2019 was 404,000, it has currently reached one million; It has generated almost 47,000 jobs and has around 2,500 training schools; and the tournament equipment also exploded.
Popularity
As specified by the federation body, Italy currently organizes five major events – Masters 1000 in Rome, WTA 1000 in Rome, WTA 250 in Palermo and the Davis Cup Finals – as well as hosting the Masters Cup from 2021 (until 2030). Added to this is an important network of tournaments that encourage young talents and act as a springboard for professionalism, with 19 challengers31 men’s and 29 women’s ITF tournaments. Also added is the presence in the ATP presidential headquarters of Andrea Gaudenzi, and on a collective level the recent triumphs in the Davis Cup (2023 and 2024) and the Billie Jean King Cup (2024 and 2025).
Him sinful effectthat of a new icon to follow, had such a powerful impact that tennis (39%) became the second most followed sport by Italians, ahead of Formula 1 (38%), volleyball (31%), athletics (31%), swimming (29%), motorcycling (29%) or cycling (26%). The world number two is, in fact, the active athlete most loved by the local population, according to a survey published by La Gazzetta dello Sport in August, which highlights that eight out of ten citizens recognize the tennis player. Despite its discretion on and off the slopes, it has become the ultimate sporting emblem. Alpine light.
An interesting group of players grows behind him (Flavio Cobolli, Luciano Darderi, Matteo Arnaldi or Luca Nardi) and in the academies his steps are imitated, while the authorities praise him and stick out their chests. It has finally arrived. “We are proud to have an athlete like Jannik,” recently stated the president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), Luciano Bonfiglio. Adding to the compliments is Panatta, who underlines how Sinner, 24 years old, is now “a player aware of his strengths and capable of controlling all aspects of his game”, while appreciating that the Sancandido “is trying new solutions, moves better and appears more confident in some areas of the pitch”.
His celebrity has catapulted an admired Italy which has ceased to be a nation of spectators and which, instead, wields great power and is seen as an example. Its base shines, exudes quality and the future is illuminated. A factory of expert, dynamic, intelligent and shooting tennis players, these days the masters exhibit their two best creations: Sinner and Musetti. The latter, gifted with an exquisite technical touch, came into the tournament with a comeback – regained at the last minute, after Novak Djokovic’s resignation – and still has a chance of qualifying. To achieve this goal, however, you will have to surrender to Alcaraz and use the calculator. THE Congratulations Italian can be felt in the fascinating Turin.
ALCARAZ STAY IN HOTEL
CA | Turin
As has already happened on other occasions, Carlos Alcaraz preferred to train this Wednesday in the hotel rather than on the pitch of the Inalpi Arena. The 22-year-old leader of the circuit had accumulated significant signs of wear the day before, against Taylor Fritz, and had opted for prevention and recovery work.
The player from Murcia took almost three hours (2h 48′) to resolve the second match of the group stage and already in his last appearance he had warned that he and his team would take care of the rest “to the millimetre” from one day to the next.
Finally, he opted to stay in the hotel in the center of Turin where he is staying these days, taking into account that against Musetti there are two things at stake: going to the semi-final – preferably as the top of the group – and, at the same time, maintaining number one.
Before he and the local tennis player face each other (2pm, Movistar+), Taylor Fritz and Alex de Miñaur will. Both still have a chance to advance to Saturday’s game as they got a win and it will all depend on how the day goes.
Not so the American Ben Shelton, member of the Sinner group. The defeat against Felix Auger-Aliassime (4-6, 76(7) and 7-5) rules him out, while the Canadian remains standing and will make his options count on the final day on Friday.
