Carlos Alcaraz spoiled the home crowd’s hopes for an Italian victory on Sunday, defeating Jannik Sinner in straight sets to win the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.
The 22-year-old Spaniard delivered a confident performance to beat Sinner 7-6(5), 6-1, snapping the Italian’s 26-match winning streak. The match lasted just under two hours, with Alcaraz saving two set points in a tense first set before dominating the second.
With this win, Alcaraz secures his seventh ATP Masters 1000 title and his 19th overall on the ATP Tour. He now ties Sinner for the most titles among players born in the 2000s.
“I’m just really happy to win my first title in Rome,” said Alcaraz. “Hopefully it won’t be the last. I also want to congratulate Jannik—coming back after three months and reaching the final in your first tournament back is incredible.”
Alcaraz improved his head-to-head record against Sinner to 7-4 and became the first player in 2025 to win three ATP titles, adding Rome to earlier victories in Rotterdam and Monte-Carlo. With 30 wins this season, he leads the ATP Tour in match victories. He also becomes just the fifth man in history to win all three major clay-court Masters 1000 events, joining tennis greats Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Gustavo Kuerten, and Marcelo Rios.
Sinner, currently ranked No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, was playing his first tournament since winning the Australian Open in January. He was hoping to become the first Italian man to win in Rome since Adriano Panatta in 1976. Despite a strong start and earning two set points, Sinner couldn’t keep up with Alcaraz’s pace once the Spaniard found his rhythm.
Alcaraz returned to top form in Rome after missing the Madrid Masters due to an adductor injury. He dropped only one set during the entire tournament and now holds a 27-2 record on clay since May 2024. With this victory, he heads to Roland Garros full of confidence.
“All eyes are on Paris now,” said Alcaraz. “Beating Jannik and winning Rome gives me a lot of confidence. I always say, ‘The final is not about playing, it’s about winning.’ That’s how I approach every final.”
Alcaraz’s variation and serve were key to his success. He lost only six points on his first serve in the opening set and saved all break points he faced. He continued his dominance in the second set, using a mix of solid defense, sharp groundstrokes, and signature drop shots.
Sinner, who defeated Madrid champion Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals, showed strong form despite the loss. The 23-year-old said he was pleased with his return after three months away from competition.
“The first set was a turning point, but I’m very happy with this tournament,” Sinner said. “It gives me confidence heading into Roland Garros. After three months off, reaching the final means a lot—to me and to my team. We worked hard to be here.”
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