Jannik Sinner reflected positively on his return to competitive tennis despite falling to Carlos Alcaraz in the Italian Open final on Sunday. The world number one was beaten 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in Rome, marking the end of his remarkable 26-match winning streak. This was Sinner’s first tournament since serving a three-month doping suspension.
Alcaraz, who also ended Sinner’s run in Beijing last year, again proved a formidable opponent. He saved two set points in the opener before seizing momentum and securing his maiden Rome title. The win extended the Spaniard’s head-to-head record over Sinner to 7-4, including last year’s thrilling five-set semi-final at Roland Garros.
Sinner, though disappointed, remained upbeat. “The first set was definitely a turning point, but overall I’m very happy with my level this week,” he said. “This result gives me hope and confidence for Paris.”
The 23-year-old had not played since winning the Australian Open in January. His absence was due to a ban resulting from two positive tests for clostebol in March 2023, a banned substance which doping authorities later concluded entered his system accidentally.
“It’s been a very emotional week,” said Sinner. “To come back and reach the final here in Rome means a lot, especially playing in front of a home crowd that supported me like family.”
Sinner admitted that some aspects of his game needed sharpening, especially if he hopes to challenge for the French Open title. “We saw today what we need to improve. I’m closer than I thought, which is encouraging,” he noted. “Some matches were excellent, others could’ve been better, but that’s tennis.”
Originally scheduled to compete in Hamburg next week alongside French Open finalist Alexander Zverev, Sinner has opted instead for a brief rest. “Now I’ll take a few days off to recharge mentally before Paris,” he said. “This was a good lesson. If I could replay those key points in the first set, I’d do things differently—but that’s experience.”
