Carlos Alcaraz continued his spectacular rise in men’s tennis on Sunday, capturing the Italian Open title with a commanding 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 victory over long-time rival Jannik Sinner.
The win marked Alcaraz’s third title of the season and served as a bold statement ahead of Roland Garros, where the 22-year-old Spaniard will arrive as defending champion and now a serious title favorite.
With this triumph, Alcaraz will climb to world number two in the ATP rankings, sitting just behind Sinner, whose impressive 26-match winning streak came to an end at the hands of the only man to beat him in a final this year.
Alcaraz had previously defeated Sinner in the 2023 China Open final, underscoring the intense and growing rivalry between the two emerging stars of men’s tennis.
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Speaking after his win, Alcaraz reflected on the significance of the moment: “Beating Jannik and winning in Rome — both things together give you great confidence going into Paris. I’m going to enjoy this moment with my family and team, take a few days to absorb what I’ve achieved, and then fully focus on Roland Garros.”
The packed centre court at Foro Italico—over 10,000 fans strong—watched Alcaraz overcome an early challenge from Sinner. The Italian missed two crucial set points in the first set’s 12th game, before Alcaraz stormed through the tie-break and then raced ahead in the second set, winning the first five games to take complete control of the match.
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Despite the loss, Sinner’s performance in Rome remains a positive step in his return to the circuit. This was his first tournament back following a three-month suspension tied to a doping violation involving clostebol—an incident anti-doping authorities acknowledged was unintentional contamination.
The 23-year-old had been chasing history, aiming to become the first Italian man to win in Rome since Adriano Panatta in 1976, but ultimately fell short.
In a light-hearted moment after the match, Sinner joked about his brother choosing to attend the Formula One Grand Prix in Imola instead of supporting him in Rome, before acknowledging Alcaraz as “the man to beat” in Paris.
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Alcaraz’s victory in Rome follows his earlier Masters 1000 win in Monte Carlo and a finals appearance in Barcelona, a testament to his formidable clay court form—even after missing the Madrid Open due to a thigh injury. His blend of athleticism, mental toughness, and tactical awareness make him one of the most dangerous contenders heading into the French Open.
Meanwhile, Italy still had reason to celebrate. Jasmine Paolini made history of her own by winning both the singles and doubles titles in Rome, becoming the first woman since Monica Seles in 1990 to do so. Her straight-sets victory over Coco Gauff and doubles win alongside Sara Errani capped a remarkable weekend for Italian tennis.
As the clay season reaches its pinnacle, Alcaraz and Sinner are poised to headline a new era in men’s tennis. With both set to be the top seeds at Roland Garros, fans could be in for another thrilling chapter in their growing rivalry—this time on the grand stage of Paris.
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