Carlos Alcaraz delivered a commanding performance to beat Jannik Sinner 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in the Italian Open final on Sunday, clinching his third title of the season and laying down a strong marker ahead of the French Open.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who will rise to world number two in Monday’s ATP rankings behind Sinner, produced a dominant display to win his second Masters 1000 title of the year following his triumph in Monte Carlo. It was his fourth final of the season and a timely confidence boost as he prepares to defend his Roland Garros crown next week.
Alcaraz ended Sinner’s 26-match unbeaten run, a streak stretching back to the start of 2024. Remarkably, the last man to beat Sinner in a final before Sunday was also Alcaraz, who triumphed in their encounter at the China Open last year.
Despite battling a thigh injury that forced him to miss the Madrid Open, Alcaraz has had an impressive clay court campaign. Sunday’s victory in Rome reaffirmed his status as one of the leading contenders in Paris, where he and Sinner are expected to be the top two seeds.
The Italian crowd had hoped to witness history, with Sinner aiming to become the first homegrown male player to win in Rome since Adriano Panatta in 1976. However, Alcaraz proved too strong, particularly in a one-sided second set that underlined his readiness for Roland Garros.
For Sinner, who was returning to competition after a doping-related suspension — a three-month ban stemming from two positive tests for the banned substance clostebol, which authorities accepted was the result of accidental contamination — the runner-up finish was still a major achievement. His impressive run in Rome hints at the potential for another showdown with Alcaraz in the French capital.
There was joy for Italy in the women’s events, as Jasmine Paolini made history by claiming both the singles and doubles titles. On Sunday, she and partner Sara Errani defeated Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens 6-4, 7-5 in the doubles final.
That success came a day after Paolini overcame Coco Gauff in straight sets to become the first Italian woman since Raffaella Reggi in 1985 to win the Rome singles title. Paolini also became the first woman to complete the Rome singles-doubles double since Monica Seles in 1990.
