Zverev, the feeling with Rome and a final that is worth double

There is a special air in Rome. Sascha Zverev, a German from Hamburg with Russian origins, feels at home among the pine trees and the beauty of the Foro Italico. “When I play here, it’s like I’m Italian.” A particular feeling that led the world number 5 (he will become number 4 if he wins the tournament, overtaking Daniil Medvedev) to dare, after the success in the quarter-finals against Taylor Fritz, before the victory in the semi-finals with Alejandro Tabilo (1- 6 7-6 6-2): “I know you miss Sinner, but this time I can try to take his place”. If it is true that the comparison with Jannik does not hold up, it is also true that the Internationals seem to have adopted Zverev. One last step and Sascha will be able to return as champion in Rome seven years after the first time: his title in 2017 was the first Masters-1000 of his career, this year the first great success in his second career could come.