Mariano Navone ahead of Jannik Sinner duel: 'This is why we play tennis'

Rome

Navone ahead of Sinner duel: 'This is why we play tennis'

Argentine speaks to ATPTour.com prior to clash with World No. 1

Peter Staples/ATP Tour Mariano Navone will play Jannik Sinner on Saturday in Rome. By Jerome Coombe

For Mariano Navone, Saturday’s second-round clash at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome represents more than just a match. He will step onto court against the World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

The 24-year-old Argentine brushed aside #NextGenATP wild card Federico Cina on Thursday to seal his spot as Sinner’s first opponent since the Italian completed a three-month period of ineligibility in a case resolution with WADA. It’s a high-stakes opportunity, and Navone knows what’s on offer.

“It’s a big opportunity for me,” Navone told ATPTour.com in Rome. “To see how I can compare to him. It’s not every day you can play against the best player in the world. I will have to play well from everywhere on the court, he hits good shots from anywhere: backhand, forehand…

“He has been out for three months, and is still No. 1 in the world. But this is why we play tennis, to play in the biggest stadiums in the world. It’s not fun when you are playing in a small place, with just you and your coach.”

The No. 99 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Navone, who arrived in Rome with a 10-13 record in 2025, has endured a difficult start to the season by the high standards he set last year. He reached his first two ATP Tour finals in Rio and Bucharest before climbing to a career-high World No. 29 in 2024.

Despite being unable to defend those ranking points, Navone has been putting in the work and hopes to spring a surprise against Sinner, who will need to be alert early against the clay-court specialist.

Navone will undeniably be met with a boisterous Roman crowd, vying for his downfall. But it won’t be the first time this year that he has played in such an electric atmosphere. The Argentine alluded to his clash with rising star Joao Fonseca in Buenos Aires in February, when he let slip two match points amid a raucous crowd in the capital.

“I don’t remember that match too much, because I lost,” Navone said with a smile. “But the atmosphere was crazy. Argentine fans love this atmosphere, with lots of shouting… It’s very good.

“I have been working hard. Last year, I had good results but it’s difficult to defend the ranking points. I am No. 99, which is not the best, but it’s good to be in the Top 100. I will continue to work hard, continue improving.”

Navone has been on a steady path over the past few years, and his quality was on full display on Thursday in Rome, where he dispatched Cina 6-3, 6-3 in their maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash. But the Argentine was full of praise for his 18-year-old opponent.

“When I looked at the draw, I checked Cina’s results, because I saw him in Madrid, and not before,” said Navone. “But then if I can beat him, I play against Sinner, which is a very special match for me.

“He [Cina] is a guy that is going to have a good career and do good results.”

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