Jannik Sinner emerged victorious over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win at the Monte-Carlo Masters on Sunday, securing his first title at the tournament and regaining the top spot in the rankings. Sinner expressed his delight at reclaiming the No. 1 position, emphasizing the significance of this achievement to him.
The matchup marked the ninth final between the four-time Grand Slam champion Sinner and seven-time major winner Alcaraz, known as the “Sincaraz” rivalry. Sinner narrowed Alcaraz’s lead to 10-7 in their head-to-head encounters by capturing his 27th career title and clinching his inaugural Masters title on clay. The 24-year-old Italian is set to ascend to the No. 1 position in the ATP rankings on Monday.
Facing challenging windy conditions at the Monte Carlo Country Club, Sinner staged a comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the second set and closed out the match by winning on his first match point when Alcaraz’s forehand went long. Sinner expressed his satisfaction with winning a significant title on clay, highlighting the personal importance of this accomplishment.
Despite Alcaraz’s previous 17-match winning streak on clay, he struggled in the final with 45 unforced errors. However, he commended Sinner for his impressive performance and achievements, acknowledging his rival’s success.
Following Alcaraz’s errant shot that concluded the match, Sinner dropped to his knees before celebrating with his team. The victory marked Sinner’s third title of the year, having previously triumphed at Indian Wells and the Miami Open. Sinner’s success in these tournaments, winning each final in straight sets, places him in elite company alongside Novak Djokovic as one of the few to reach the final in the first three Masters events of a season.
Alcaraz, who claimed two titles this year including the Australian Open, holds the distinction of being the youngest male player to win all four Grand Slam titles. In their previous encounters, Alcaraz staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Sinner in the French Open final last year, experienced a loss to Sinner in the Wimbledon final, and then emerged victorious over Sinner in the U.S. Open final.