Roma
Navone faces the duel against Sinner: “That is why we play in tennis”
The Argentine talks with atptour.com before the duel with the World Cup No. 1
May 09, 2025
Peter Staples/ATP Tour
By
For Mariano Navone, the second round duel in the internali bnl d’Italia of Rome this Saturday is more than a match. The Argentine will enter track to face No. 1 Cup Jannik Sinner.
The South American defeated #nextGenatp Federico Cina to become the first Rival of Sinner since the Italian fulfilled a three -month period of inegability in a case resolution with Wada. It is a unique opportunity and Navone knows what will be at stake.
“It’s a great opportunity for me,” Navone acknowledged to Atptour.com in Rome. “I can see how much it separates us. Not every day you can compete before the best player in the world. I have to make a good tennis from any point on the track. He is able to connect blows anywhere: reverse, right, …”
“He has been out of competition for three months and remains No. 1 of the world. We played in tennis to live moments, to play in the biggest stadiums in the world. It is not fun to play in small places where you only accompany your coach.”
Navone, who has arrived in Rome with a balance of 10-13 in 2025, crossed a complicated start of the season compared to last year. The Argentine reached his first two ATP Tour finals in Rio de Janeiro and Bucharest before signing the highest position of his career as No. 29 World Cup in 2024.
Despite failing to defend those points, Navone has continued to work and hopes to surprise Sinner, who will need to be alert to a whipped land specialist.
Navone will have to live with the intense tier of Rome. And it will not be the first time that this season competes with an intense atmosphere around it. The Argentine recalled his duel against the emerging Joao Fonseca in Buenos Aires in February, where he let two party points escape under a vibrant atmosphere in the capital.
“I don’t remember that game too much because I lost,” Navone said with a smile. “But the atmosphere was crazy. Argentine fans love that environment, with many shouts. It’s something very good.”
“I have worked hard. Last year I had good results but it is difficult to defend those points. I am No. 99, it is not the best position, but it is good to be in the top 100. I will continue working hard to improve.”
Navone has maintained constant growth in recent years. The Argentine displayed his talent on Thursday in Rome, where he beat Cina 6-3, 6-3 in his first shock Lexus ATP Head2head. After the victory, he had words of breath for the young Italian.
“When I looked at the painting I checked the results of Cina. I had seen him in Madrid but never before,” said Navone. “If I won you, I would face Sinner, a very special game for me. [Cina] He is a player who will have good career and good results. “
Source: https://www.atptour.com/es/news/navone-rome-2025-feature
