The 2025 Italian Open delivered an unexpected twist this week when a loud military flyover, meant to stir patriotic pride, momentarily halted the action and left Jannik Sinner and Naomi Osaka visibly shaken on the court.
The dramatic moment, captured in two separate clips, showed the players visibly stunned as aircrafts soared over the Foro Italico in perfect formation, trailing smoke in the colors of the Italian flag.
Jannik Sinner Marches Into Third Round as Naomi Osaka Falls in Round of 16 in Rome
Sinner, Italy’s hometown favorite and the tournament’s top seed, is playing with a renewed sense of purpose after serving a three-month doping suspension earlier this season. The 23-year-old tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol in March 2024, later determined to have been administered unintentionally via a medicated spray used by his physiotherapist.
An independent panel concluded that Sinner bore no fault, yet he agreed to a suspension from Feb. 9 through May 4 in a settlement with WADA. The hiatus cost him appearances at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, and Madrid, key stops on the tour.
Back on Roman clay, Sinner marked his return with a straight-sets victory over Mariano Navone in the second round and is set to face Jesper de Jong next. The two previously met at the 2024 Australian Open, where Sinner won in straight sets.
On the women’s side, Osaka brushed aside Sara Errani in the first round, followed by solid wins over Viktorija Golubic and Marie Bouzková. Her run ended at the hands of American Peyton Stearns in the Round of 16, but not before she experienced the same sonic jolt as Sinner.
During her match with Stearns, Osaka was visibly startled when the flyover occurred. She paused and glared skyward as the jets roared above the court. The crowd, too, momentarily stopped to take in the spectacle.
Clips of both players’ reactions surfaced on Instagram. One video showed Sinner initially jolting from the noise before breaking into a smile, visibly appreciating the patriotic display. Another captured Osaka freezing in confusion, her eyes scanning the sky as she waited for the thunderous noise to pass.
Watch the videos here:
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Jannik Sinner Delivers a Lighthearted Take on His Return at the Italian Open
During his pre-tournament press conference in Rome, Jannik Sinner jokingly said it felt like his first day of school. The Italian added that he’s keeping expectations low while focusing on regaining comfort on court.
“Yeah, it feels like the first day when you go to school again, you never know exactly what to expect. I’m very happy to be in Rome, it’s a very special place, first of all, for being an Italian to make a comeback. Everything together, I’m just happy,” Sinner said.
“Not many expectations at all. I’m just trying to get back on court, having a good feel with what’s happening on the court and with the crowd all together, so yeah, let’s see,” he added.
