Ruud teases Italian football after losing Masters 1000 Rome Final to Sinner

Norwegian tennis star Casper Ruud congratulated Jannik Sinner on winning the Italian Open title on Sunday, but joked: ‘I know that in football, it’s a different story at the moment.’

Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner, the ATP World No.1, made history on Sunday by winning the Italian Open title in Rome, becoming the first Italian male player to achieve the feat in 50 years.

He beat 17th-ranked Ruud in the Final in two sets, sparking celebrations in Rome and across the country.

Ruud: ‘In football, it’s a different story’ after losing Italian Open Final to Sinner

“Congratulations to you for making history for yourself, your country, and your team. It’s a fantastic win,” Ruud told Sinner in his post-match speech.

“I just want to say to the Italian Tennis Federation, you are doing an incredible job. What Jannik is doing, but after him, there are six, seven, eight unbelievable players taking tennis by storm. I know that in football, it’s a different story at the moment.

“When you lost to Norway, we were able to make a little bit of jokes.”

ROME, ITALY – MAY 17: Casper Ruud of Norway speaks to the crowd after defeat against Jannik Sinner of Italy in the Men’s Singles Final match on Day Thirteen of the Internazionali BNL D’Italia 2026 at Foro Italico on May 17, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

Italy and Norway met twice in the World Cup qualifying group last year, with the Azzurri losing both matches badly.

La Nazionale lost the opening leg 3-0 in Norway in June 2025 and the return leg 4-1 in Milan.

Norway won the group to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, while the Azzurri were forced to go through the play-off, losing the final on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina and failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row.

Ironically, Giovanni Malagò, a former CONI President and one of the two candidates for the FIGC Presidency, was in the stand in the Rome centre court on Sunday, witnessing Sinner’s latest triumph.

The elections for the new FIGC President will be held on June 22, 2026.