For Jannik Sinner, though, it wasn't just about becoming the first Italian man to win the Italian Open since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago.
The top-ranked Sinner's 6-4, 6-4 victory over Casper Ruud in Sunday's final on the red clay of the Foro Italico also made him only the second man after Novak Djokovic to win all nine Masters 1000 events — the biggest tournaments outside the grand slams.
"There's no better place to complete this set," Sinner said. "For an Italian, it's one of the most special places we play tennis in. To win at least once in my career means a lot to me."
Djokovic completed the career set in 2018 in Cincinnati at age 31 — and then went on to win each event at least twice. Sinner is 24, and with his only real rival, Carlos Alcaraz, currently sidelined due to a right wrist injury, seemingly nobody can beat him.
"Welcome to the exclusive club, Jannik," Djokovic wrote on Instagram.
Sinner extended his winning streak to 29 matches. He hasn't lost since getting beaten by Jakub Mensik in the Qatar Open quarter-finals on February 19. And he's now 17-0 on clay this year entering the French Open, which starts next Sunday.
Sinner celebrated calmly as usual, revealing a wide smile when he landed an inside-out forehand on the line on his first championship point, then held his hands over his head in apparent relief. He waved to the crowd, which included 1976 champion Panatta sitting in the front row.
"Adriano, after 50 years we've won back a very important trophy," Sinner told the 75-year-old Panatta, who participated in the trophy ceremony.
Roland Garros is the only grand slam Sinner hasn't won. He has two Australian Open titles and Wimbledon and the US. Open once each.
Sinner's triumph — with Italy President Sergio Mattarella in attendance — came after he lost last year's final in Rome to Alcaraz in his first tournament back after a three-month doping ban.
Angelo Binaghi, the president of the Italian tennis federation, suggested that even if there was a 25,000-seat centre court in Rome — bigger than the US Open's Arthur Ashe Stadium, the world's largest tennis arena — it would have been full.
Sinner overcame exhaustion to beat Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals in a rain-delayed match that required two days to finish, but there were no signs of fatigue against the 25th-ranked Ruud.
The two-time Roland Garros finalist wasted an early break and a 2-0 advantage at the start of the first set, but Sinner quickly broke back and then broke again toward the end of the set with the help of three key drop shots.
A big backhand winner up the line gave Sinner another break in the opening game of the second set as he improved to 5-0 in his career against Ruud.
"What you're doing this year it's hard to describe in words," Ruud told Sinner during the trophy ceremony.
"It's really an honor to watch you play. ... Congratulations for making history."
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