Carlos Alcaraz Denies Favorite Tag Ahead of the Monte Carlo Final Against Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz will be hoping to keep his World No.1 ranking.

Carlos Alcaraz Denies Favorite Tag Ahead of the Monte Carlo Final Against Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K, The Independent)

In Short
  • Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will compete in the Monte Carlo Masters final, with the ATP world No. 1 ranking at stake.
  • Alcaraz, the reigning champion, has reached 10 ATP 1000 finals before turning 23, joining Nadal and Djokovic in this achievement.
  • Sinner aims for his first Monte Carlo title after defeating Zverev in the semifinals, marking his third consecutive Masters 1000 final this season.

If one were to script the perfect Sunday in the tennis universe, it would look exactly like this. The glistening Mediterranean Sea in the background, the red clay of the Principality practically glowing in the sun, and the two best tennis players walking the earth right now stepping onto the court to settle a score.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are colliding in the Monte Carlo Masters final. And just to sprinkle a little extra hot sauce on this matchup, the winner doesn’t just walk away with a shiny trophy. The winner takes the ATP world No. 1 ranking on Monday morning. Before the final, Alcaraz has put down any predictions. Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference:

There’s no favorite against him. I can lose to him on any surface.

In a sport that spent two decades dominated by the Big Three, the fans spent a lot of time worrying about what would happen when they finally hung up their rackets. They didn’t need to worry as the kids are more than alright.

At just 22 years old, Alcaraz is defending his crown, while the 24-year-old Italian phenom, Sinner, is hunting for his first Monte Carlo title. This isn’t just a tennis match; it’s a battle for the throne.

How Carlos Alcaraz punched his ticket to Sunday

Let’s talk about Carlos Alcaraz for a second. The reigning world No. 1 has been playing tennis like a guy who double-parked his car outside the stadium. He’s in a hurry, and he’s taking no prisoners.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

In the semifinals, Alcaraz drew Valentin Vacherot. Vacherot had a magical week, becoming the first Monegasque player to ever reach the semifinals on his home soil. It was a great story—right up until Alcaraz decided it was time to close the book. Alcaraz broke the local hero three times, putting on an absolute masterclass to seal a 6-4, 6-4 victory in a brisk 84 minutes.

By reaching this final, Alcaraz has now hit 10 ATP 1000 finals before his 23rd birthday. The only other players to do that? Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Jannik Sinner’s path of destruction

On the other side of the net stands Jannik Sinner, a man who currently looks completely allergic to losing. Sinner absolutely dismantled Alexander Zverev in his semifinal matchup.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/4K JANNIK SINNER)

Sinner came out of the gates swinging, taking the first set 6-1 before Zverev could even figure out which way was up. Zverev managed to find a pulse in the second set, but Sinner snagged a decisive break to close it out 6-4.

With this win, Sinner became the first player since Djokovic in 2015 to reach all three Masters 1000 finals in the opening stretch of the season.

This will be the 17th career meeting between these two superstars, with Alcaraz currently holding a 10-6 edge in the head-to-head. If the fans have a decent memory, they might recall their last meeting on the dirt. It was the 2025 French Open final, an absolute thriller where Alcaraz had to fend off three championship points to pull off the victory.

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