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.

Tommy Paul had deluded all American fans during the first set of the second semifinal of the Rome Masters 1000 against Jannik Sinner. The American ace had been almost perfect in the first part of the match and had put the world number 1 in serious difficulty with his game,