Sinner struggled with his right hamstring, which was caused by a blister on his right foot that has bothered him since the third round. The Italian will take care of his blister ahead of the title clash against Carlos Alcaraz, acknowledging he will require all his energy for such a challenging duel.

World No 1 Sinner is through to his first Italian Open final in his home country, in what is his first tournament since returning to the sport following a three-month doping ban. He has won 26 consecutive matches but Alcaraz was the last player to beat him, at the China Open in October.

A couple of weeks in Rome that started with the return of the prodigal son and then took in the election of a new Pope will have a fittingly blockbuster ending: the world’s two best male tennis players facing off for the Italian Open title.