Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets to win the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time on Sunday and reclaim the world number one ranking from his Spanish rival.
Sinner beat Alcaraz 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to win his third ATP 1000 title of the year after completing the “Sunshine Double” last month with victories at Indian Wells and Miami.
Sinner, 24, joins Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as only the third player to win four successive ATP 1000 titles. He also triumphed in Paris at the end of last season.
“We came here trying to have as many matches as possible, getting good feedback before other big tournaments to come. Today we both reached a high level,” Sinner said.
“There was a little wind, a little breeze. Different conditions from the tournament. The result is incredible.
“Coming back at number 1 means a lot to me…I’m very happy to win a big title on this surface, I’ve never done it before.”
It was the first meeting between Sinner and Alcaraz since the Italian prevailed at the ATP Finals in November.
Sinner, who is now 7-10 in his career against Alcaraz, will return to the top spot on Monday.
He has won his last 17 matches and becomes the first man since Djokovic in 2015 to win the first three ATP 1000 titles of the season.
“What you are accomplishing right now is impressive,” Alcaraz told Sinner during the trophy ceremony. “Only one man has won the ‘Sunshine Double’ and the Monte Carlo and you are the second.”
Alcaraz had won his last 17 matches on clay, dating back to last season when he won titles in Rome and Roland Garros.
He admitted Sinner performed better when it mattered most on Sunday.
“I would say the big moments, the big points, I didn’t play well. I think I had so many opportunities in the match that I didn’t take,” Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz took a 2-0 lead when Sinner pushed a long forehand in windy conditions, but the Italian fought back in the next game as he gradually found his rhythm.
The Spaniard held off a break point in the fifth game and three more at 4-4, but Sinner’s greater consistency paid off in the tiebreak, which he earned when Alcaraz double-faulted on the set point.
“Dangerous for everyone”
Alcaraz won a sensational rally to break Sinner’s serve early in the second set, but the second seed continued to put pressure on his opponent and rallied from 3-1 down, winning the last five games to clinch the biggest clay court title of his career.
“It was an incredible week,” said Sinner, pleased with the smooth transition he made from the hard courts.
“I’m very surprised. I guess I still need a little more time to realize what happened.”
Sinner has hinted he may skip the Madrid Open, where he has no points to defend after missing last year’s tournament while serving a three-month suspension for doping, to focus on his main goal of winning the French Open.
He held three championship points in an epic Roland Garros 2025 final, but was unable to convert as Alcaraz staged a miraculous comeback – although Sinner looks set for another title challenge.
“I think he’s reaching a level on clay that’s going to be really dangerous for everyone,” Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz travels to Barcelona next week and intends to play a full season on clay, health permitting, after injury forced him out of Madrid 12 months ago.
“I hear my body a lot better than last year, that’s for sure,” Alcaraz said. “If my body stays healthy, I will do whatever it takes to be healthy and take care of my body. If I have no problems, I will play everything on clay.”
