By: Kwame Bediako
Carlos Alcaraz ended Jannik Sinner’s 26-match winning streak to claim his first Italian Open title. The match was tense from the start, with both players holding serve through the opening games. Sinner faced only one break point in the entire first set, which he successfully defended. Down 6-5, 15-40, Alcaraz saved two set points and eventually took the opening set in a gripping tiebreak, which lasted over an hour. The Spaniard’s resilience proved crucial as he fought back from the brink to take the set 7-6(5).
Momentum shifted firmly in Alcaraz’s favour in the second set, where he dominated his young rival. Seizing control, he stormed through the set with aggressive groundstrokes and strategic play, ultimately winning it 6-1. The one hour and 43-minute match highlighted Alcaraz’s mental toughness and his ability to perform under pressure. The victory marked his seventh career Masters 1000 title and his first at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, cementing his status as one of the sport’s top contenders.
This win was especially significant as it represented a different kind of comeback for Alcaraz, who had previously dropped the first set to Sinner three times in 2024 but managed to turn those matches around. Sunday’s final showcased his ability to adapt and rise to the occasion, even when facing adversity. It was a milestone moment for the 21-year-old, who now joins an elite group of players to have won all three clay-court Masters 1000 tournaments.
Alcaraz’s victory also denied Sinner the chance to become the first Italian male champion in Rome since Adriano Panatta nearly 50 years ago. The two rivals now share a total of 19 ATP singles titles each—the most for any male player born in the 2000s. Their rivalry continues to captivate tennis fans and marks a new chapter in the sport’s generational shift.
