ROME — There’s just one participant who’s persistently beating Jannik Sinner.
Carlos Alcaraz defeated the top-ranked participant once more, beating Sinner 7-6 (5), 6-1 to win his first Italian Open on Sunday and add one other large clay-court title to his résumé.
For the reason that begin of final 12 months, Alcaraz is the one participant to beat Sinner greater than as soon as, and now he has carried out it 4 straight occasions.
“Simply proud about myself, the best way that I approached the match mentally,” Alcaraz stated. “Tactically suppose I did it fairly effectively from the primary to the final level. I maintained my degree throughout the entire match.”
Alcaraz’s victory earlier than Sinner’s residence followers on the Foro Italico snapped the Italian’s 26-match successful streak, which stretched again to October, when Alcaraz beat him within the China Open closing in a third-set tiebreaker. Alcaraz leads the profession sequence 7-4.
It was Sinner’s first match again after a three-month doping ban.
“I am simply actually blissful to see Jannik again at this superb degree,” Alcaraz stated. “I am certain it wasn’t simple for him getting back from three months with out enjoying. Making the ultimate right here is one thing insane.”
Alcaraz additionally solidified his standing as the favourite to defend his title on the French Open, which begins subsequent Sunday.
“On clay proper now, you are the perfect participant,” Sinner stated.
Added Alcaraz, “Beating Jannik, successful Rome. I feel each issues combined collectively offer you a terrific confidence coming to Paris. I at all times say that the ultimate just isn’t about enjoying, the ultimate is about successful, to go for it. I simply repeated [that to] myself on a regular basis.”
Sinner was enjoying his first match since he gained his third Grand Slam title on the Australian Open in January.
In February, Sinner agreed to a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Company that raised questions as a result of the three-month suspension allowed him to not miss any Grand Slams and are available again at his residence match.
Sinner stated that he and his group went via “three months that have been something however simple, so attaining this consequence already right here is actually large” and that “we needs to be actually proud.”
He added: “We’re bringing residence a really particular trophy, even when I needed the opposite one.”
Sinner was trying to develop into the primary residence man to win the Italian Open since Adriano Panatta in 1976. He was additionally attempting to finish a sweep of the Rome singles titles for Italy after Jasmine Paolini gained the ladies’s trophy Saturday.
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Paolini and accomplice Sara Errani additionally defended their ladies’s doubles title earlier Sunday, making Paolini the primary girl since Monica Seles in 1990 to comb Rome’s singles and doubles titles in the identical 12 months.
Numerous the ten,500 followers in Campo Centrale have been decked out in orange — Sinner’s theme coloration — they usually have been chanting his title earlier than the match started, and even after he misplaced.
“You gave me numerous power, lot of braveness to be right here on court docket; I attempted with every little thing I had,” Sinner informed the gang. “It was one thing very, very particular. Thanks.”
Sinner additionally cracked a joke about providing “particular thanks” to his brother, Mark, “who as an alternative of being right here, determined to go to Imola to observe System 1.”
However Sinner wasted two set factors on Alcaraz’s serve when he led 6-5 within the first set after which Alcaraz jumped forward within the tiebreaker with two aces and held on to seal it earlier than cruising within the second set.
On Alcaraz’s third match level, Sinner ran down a drop shot however Alcaraz was ready for his reply and hit a stretch volley winner into the open court docket.
Alcaraz then held his arms out broad and flashed a large smile.
Alcaraz hit 19 winners to Sinner’s seven and had just one extra unforced error than his opponent — 31-30. Half of Sinner’s errors got here from his backhand, which is normally his most reliable shot.
A four-time Grand Slam champion, Alcaraz will transfer again as much as No. 2 within the rankings Monday after his third closing in three clay-court occasions this season. He gained the Monte Carlo Masters and completed runner-up within the Barcelona Open earlier than withdrawing from the Madrid Open due to harm.
Having additionally gained the Madrid Open in 2022 and 2023, Alcaraz grew to become the fifth man to win all three Masters 1000 clay occasions after Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Gustavo Kuerten and Marcelo Rios.
