“He can keep him off-balance” Former World No. 1 pinpoints why Carlos Alcaraz continues to beat Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner for the fourth consecutive time to win the Rome Masters for the first time in his career.

“He can keep him off-balance” Former World No. 1 pinpoints why Carlos Alcaraz continues to beat Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/InteBNLdItalia, Carlos Alcaraz)

Carlos Alcaraz was in no mood for a rollercoaster match on Sunday (May 18) as he produced a top-level performance to beat Jannik Sinner to claim his first Rome title and his seventh career ATP Masters 1000 title. Former World No.1 Jim Courier revealed why Alcaraz dominated the Italian in the match.

Alcaraz has often had ups and downs in matches on his run to the Rome final, but always found a way to claim the victory. The Spaniard didn’t show any sign of a rollercoaster display against Sinner, who was also at his best. Both players fought for every point, but the match changed after Sinner misplaced a backhand return while leading 6-5 (30/40) in the first set.

Alcaraz took advantage of the miss and turned the match around. The Spaniard’s use of variation of shots was pivotal in the second set, as Sinner struggled. In fact, Alcaraz dropped just six of his 27 first serve points in the second set. In the end, the 22-year-old beat the World No.1 7-6(5), 6-1 in an hour and 44 minutes to claim the Rome title.

After the match, Jim Courier analyzed why Alcaraz’s style of play always dominates Sinner’s style. The former World No.1 revealed that the Spaniard always made Sinner off-balance and off-beat, as it was the fourth consecutive time that Alcaraz was beating the Italian.

It is the fact that Alcaraz can keep Sinner off beat, off guard and off balance and the fact that even on the set point where he eventually took in the opening set, Alcaraz does something that no other player in tennis would dare to do. He comes in on a low percentage shot to Sinner’s forehand and he is good enough at the net to pull off these acrobatic shots, so it’s all the elements he can bring and him rising to the occasion. Let’s not sleep on that. It’s one thing to have all these assets, it’s another to be able to do at crunch time which he has continued to do against Sinner.

Jim Courier said via Tennis Channel

Alcaraz’s victory sees him improve in his head-to-head record against Sinner to 7-4. He also became the first player this season to win three ATP titles. His first came in Rotterdam, and then Monte Carlo, before Rome. In addition, he’s the only player to have won 30 matches on Tour this season and has been to four finals.

Meanwhile, Sinner was competing in Rome, his first tournament after serving his three-month suspension. He was seeking to become the first male Italian to with the Rome title since Adriano Panatta in 1976. After his loss to Alcaraz, he will now focus on performing at his best at the Roland Garros.

Carlos Alcaraz is focused on winning the French Open after claiming the Rome Masters

Carlos Alcaraz is undoubtedly the favorite to win the Roland Garros. He will be seeking to defend the title after winning it for the first time last year. He has been at his best on the clay court this season, just losing once in three tournaments. The World No. 2 also looks in perfect condition despite sustaining an injury at the Barcelona Open final. He revealed after beating Jannik Sinner that his focus is now on winning the Roland Garros.

Carlos Alcaraz (3)
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Carlos Alcaraz said:

All eyes are on Paris right now, on Roland Garros. Beating Jannik, winning Rome, both things mix together and give [me] great confidence going to Paris. I always say ‘The final is not about playing, the final is about winning’. I just repeat [that] approach everytime I play a final.

Alcaraz ended Sinner’s 24-match winning streak against Top 10 players and his 26-match unbeaten run. The last time Sinner lost in those two records was against Alcaraz in the final of the China Open back in October. Alcaraz will hope he continues his dominant run against Sinner at the French Open, which starts on May 25.

Also Read: Carlos Alcaraz Convinced Novak Djokovic Is ‘Capable’ of Playing 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Despite Slump in Form