Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets to win the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time on Sunday and regain the world number one ranking from his Spanish rival.
Sinner defeated Alcaraz 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to capture his third ATP 1000 title of the year after completing the “Sunshine Double” last month with wins in Indian Wells and Miami.
Sinner, 24, joins Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as the only third player to win four consecutive ATP 1000 titles. He also triumphed in Paris at the end of last season.
“We came here trying to play as many matches as possible, getting good feedback before other big tournaments are coming up. Today we had a high level from both of us,” Sinner said.
“It was a little windy, a little breezy. Different conditions than what the tournament brought. The result is surprising.”
“Going back to number 1 means a lot to me… I’m very happy to win a big title on this surface, I haven’t done it before.”
It was the first meeting between Sinner and Alcaraz since the Italian won the ATP Finals in November.
Sinner, who is now 7-10 in his career against Alcaraz, will return to the top of the standings 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.
“It’s impressive what you’re achieving right now,” Alcaraz told Sinner during the trophy presentation. “Only one man had won the ‘Sunshine Double’ and 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 that Sinner performed better on Sunday when it mattered most.
“I would say that in the important moments, in the important points, I did not play well. I think I had many opportunities in the game that I did not take advantage of,” Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz took a 2-0 lead when Sinner pushed a forehand long in stormy conditions, but the Italian recovered in the next game as he slowly found his rhythm.
The Spaniard fought off a break point in the fifth game and three more at 4-4, but Sinner’s greater consistency paid off in the tie-break, which he clinched when Alcaraz double-faulted on set point.
“Dangerous for everyone”
Alcaraz won a sensational comeback to break Sinner’s serve early in the second set, but the second seed continued to pressure his opponent and recovered from 3-1 down, taking the final five games to clinch the biggest clay court title of his career.
“It was an amazing week,” Sinner said, pleased with the smooth transition he made from the hard courts.
“I’m very surprised. I guess I still need a little time to realize what happened.”
Sinner has hinted that he might 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 had three championship points in an epic 2025 Roland Garros final but failed to convert as Alcaraz pulled off a miraculous comeback, although Sinner looks primed for another title challenge.
“I think he’s reaching a level on clay that will be really dangerous for everyone,” Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz will travel to Barcelona next week and intends to play a full season on clay, health permitting, after an injury forced him to leave Madrid 12 months ago.
“I’m sure I listen to my body a lot better than last year,” Alcaraz said. “If my body stays healthy, I’ll do whatever it takes to be healthy and take care of it. If I don’t have any problems, I’ll play everything on clay.”
