ROME, ITALY – MAY 18: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain plays a forehand against Jannik Sinner of Italy during … More
In a possible preview of the French Open final next month, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz met in the Italian Open final Sunday in Rome.
The Spaniard prevailed over the Italian, 7-6(5), 6-1, for his first Rome title and seventh Masters 1000 crown and will head into Paris on a high note as he attempts to defend his championship. Alcaraz has now won four straight over Sinner, who had not lost in straight sets in his last 94 matches.
Alcaraz improved to 7-1 against Top-10 opponents on clay, and 3-1 against players ranked No. 1 in the world (including two vs. Sinner). He is the first man to win 30 matches this year.
“I’m just really happy to get my first Rome Carlos Alcaraz Snaps Jannik Sinner’s 26-Match Winning Streak To Capture Italian Open Title, hopefully it’s not going to be the last one,” said Alcaraz. “The first thing I want to say is that I’m just really happy to see Jannik back at this amazing level. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for him coming back after three months and making the final of a Masters 1000 in his first tournament [back]. It’s something insane, so I have to congratulate him.
“I’m proud of myself, with the way I approached the match mentally. Tactically, I think I played pretty well from the first point until the last one. I didn’t do a rollercoaster… I maintained my good level throughout the whole match, so I’m really proud about everything I did today.”
The loss snapped a 26-match winning streak for Sinner, the reigning Australian Open and U.S. Open champion.
Sinner was bidding to become the second Italian to win the Rome title this weekend after No. 6 Jasmine Paolini beat No. 4 Coco Gauff, 6-4, 6-2.
Sinner, 23, holds three major titles, while the 22-year-old Alcaraz has won four Grand Slam titles.
Sinner, who had the backing of his home fans, was playing his first tournament after a two-month ban for doping. But he basically cruised into the final, dominating No. 6 Casper Ruud, 6-0, 6-1 in the quarterfinals, and then dispatching Tommy Paul, 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 in the semis.
Alcaraz beat No. 5 Jack Draper and No. 8 Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets in his previous two matches.
After saving a couple of set points, Alcaraz took the first set in a tiebreak when he came flying in and won the set on a forehand volley into the open court.
Sinner then had break chances in the first game of the second set, but Alcaraz held for 1-0 and then broke the Italian at love for 2-0.
Alcaraz deftly employed the drop shot, hitting a beautiful forehand winner to go up 3-0.
Serving at 5-1, 40-15, Alcaraz lost two match points, but on his third, he hit a drop shot that drew Sinner in and then hit a forehand volley into the open court.
“[The] first set for sure was a little bit of a game-changer. But talking generally, [I am] very happy about this tournament,” Sinner said. “It gives me hopefully confidence to play some good tennis also in Paris. Let’s see what’s coming out there.
“But after three months, coming here, making this result means a lot to me, a lot to my team also. We worked a lot to be here.”
