Jim Courier tells Tommy Paul what he must do against Jannik Sinner to stand any chance of beating him at the Italian Open

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Tommy Paul faces Jannik Sinner later tonight, in the second of two enthralling semi-final encounters.

Naturally, the bulk of the tennis world will be hoping for the latter to join Carlos Alcaraz in a grand Italian Open final.

However, US onlookers will instead be hoping that the 27-year-old can upset the party and join his WTA compatriot after Coco Gauff beat Qinwen Zheng in Rome last night.

That could explain why two legendary figures of American tennis have today come out to offer some support for Tommy Paul.

Andre Agassi and Jim Courier analyse Tommy Paul vs Jannik Sinner

Speaking on Tennis Channel Live earlier today, it was Andre Agassi and Jim Courier who were keen to provide some advice and analysis on Paul’s chances of beating Jannik Sinner.

After all, it will take a monumental task to do so, especially after yesterday’s bruising win over Casper Ruud.

Courier kickstarted proceedings, claiming: ‘It’s going to be a night match which I think is going to slow things down. That makes it harder for Tommy to do what he can to offset the speed of shot coming. Tommy is going to have to get to net, for me that is the only chance he has. Sinner just hasn’t played a bad match.

‘I can’t remember the last time Sinner has played a bad match and remotely threatened to beat himself. I certainly don’t expect him to in those cooler conditions.’

Agassi would then chime in: ‘Typically heavier means the person who is going to do most the dictating is going to have the advantage. He is doing the dictating with RPM’s and pace. I agree with you Jim [about Tommy] getting in, but trying to make something happen early in the point.

‘The one thing you cannot do in these conditions, especially if Sinner is on point with the way he is firing off both wings is let him settle in to dictating the terms. Much easier said than done, I mean Tommy is gifted athletically, he is gifted serving wide in the ad court, but he has to show complete conviction either moving forward or taking some risk early off the backhand wing otherwise he is going to be on the other end of relentless aggression.’

Tommy Paul’s head-to-head record vs Jannik Sinner

One of the few factors that could benefit Paul going into tonight’s clash is that, unlike Ruud, he actually boasts a win against Sinner on his record.

Unfortunately, it did not go well for the American the last time they met, as he was beaten in straight sets at the US Open last year as the 23-year-old charged to the title. He made it difficult though, taking the opening two sets to a tiebreak.

Again, in Toronto in 2023, a 6-4, 6-4 defeat does not denote a comfortable win for Sinner.

Then came his first win against the Italian a year before even that, overcoming the rising star on the grass of Eastbourne just months after he had lost their first-ever meeting in Madrid.