Carlos Alcaraz downs Jannik Sinner for 2025 Italian Open title

Carlos Alcaraz appears to have **Jannik Sinner'**s number as he beat the world’s top tennis player 7-6 (5), 6-1 in the final of the Italian Open on Sunday (18 May) to claim his third title of the 2025 season.

Local hero Sinner has not tasted defeat in 26 matches, which dates back to his loss to Alcaraz in the final of the 2024 China Open.

The Spaniard has now won seven of their 11 encounters and his fourth match in a row, presenting himself in top form ahead of the French Open as he captured his seventh ATP Masters 1000 title.

Sinner, who was competing in his first event since winning the Australian Open in January, walked onto the Campo Centrale looking to etch his name into the history books as only the second Italian after Adriano Panatta in 1976 to win the Italian Open.

The crowd at the Foro Italico witnessed a thrilling battle between the world No. 1 and No. two in the first set.

Alcaraz had the first opportunity to put Sinner on the back foot but could not convert a breakpoint in the fifth game.

Sinner’s chance came late in the first set, where he had Olympic silver medallist Alcaraz against the ropes with two break points - Alcaraz fought back tenaciously to hold and force the tiebreak.

After hitting two aces, Alcaraz stormed to a 3-0 lead in the tiebreak and never looked back.

The 22-year-old Alcaraz dictated play in the second set, taking a commanding 5-0 lead after breaking the Italian in the second and the fourth games.

It was all over after one hour and 45 minutes. Sinner had not lost in straight sets in his last 94 matches while Alcaraz is the first player to win 30 matches this season.

"I’m just really happy to get my first Rome [title], hopefully it’s not going to be the last one,” said Alcaraz. “I’m proud of myself, with the way I approached the match mentally. Tactically, I think I played pretty well from the first point until the last one. I didn’t do a rollercoaster… I maintained my good level throughout the whole match, so I’m really proud about everything I did today.”

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