Jannik Sinner Calls Carlos Alcaraz ‘Best Clay-Court’ Player After Italian Open Final Defeat

Carlos Alcaraz snapped Jannik Sinner's 26-match winning streak to become an Italian Open champion for the first time.

Jannik Sinner Calls Carlos Alcaraz ‘Best Clay-Court’ Player After Italian Open Final Defeat

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

It seems only Carlos Alcaraz can stop Jannik Sinner. The Italian Open final, held on Sunday (May 18) was nothing short of a blockbuster as one expected; but the lively fans inside Campo Centrale were, well, a bit disappointed in the second set.

Momentum in the first set kept shifting and Sinner committed a backhand error in the second set point at 6-5, 30/40. Alcaraz quickly closed the gap and strongly started the tie-break.

The second set was contrasting to that of the first, for Alcaraz was on the cusp of bageling the home favorite. Alcaraz incorporated his famous drop shots at crucial moments, not giving any chances to Sinner to hit winners, eventually breaking his 26-match winning streak.

The Spaniard also ended Sinner’s 24-set streak against the top 10 players. It was their 25th ATP final and Alcaraz, with his 7-6(5), 6-1 win that lasted for an hour and 44 minutes, registered his four consecutive victory over the World No.1 to take a 7-4 lead in the head-to-head meeting with him.

Although Sinner lost, he was not disappointed with his defeat as he expressed satisfaction of reaching the final after his three-month doping ban. Sinner was all praise for Alcaraz during the trophy presentation, calling him the best clay-court player.

Carlos, congratulations to you and your team. You’ll definitely be the favorite in Paris. You’re definitely the best clay-court player at the moment. Congratulations and good luck for the rest of the season.

Sinner was climbing ladders last year; breaking records, and winning important titles, ending the season with eight trophies. The only player who was successful in stopping him was Alcaraz, against whom he lost three matches, including in the French Open semifinal.

Sinner’s 26-match winning streak started at the Shanghai Open after- about two weeks ago- he was defeated in the final of the China Open by Alcaraz. Since then, he never faced Alcaraz until this Rome final. Alcaraz has now taken a 2-1 lead in the clay-court matches he played against the 23-year-old.

Jannik Sinner’s brother ditches him for Formula 1

The crowd, including Jannik Sinner‘s parents, erupted in laughter when he took a sarcastic jibe at his brother during the runner-up speech. His older brother Mark chose to ditch him and went to Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Jannik Sinner (4)
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Special thank you to my brother who rather than being here is in Imola watching Formula 1.

Jannik Sinner said during the presentation ceremony

It was Carlos Alcaraz‘s first title in Rome and another first title of this season, for he also became a Monte Carlo Masters and Rotterdam Open champion for the first time. Alcaraz has now become the first ATP player to take home three titles this season and is also the fifth man to win every clay-court Masters 1000 trophy after Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Gustavo Kuerten, and Marcelo Rios.

Before Rome, Alcaraz reached the final in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. While he was successful in defeating Lorenzo Musetti in The Principality, he lost the Barcelona Open to Holger Rune. Alcaraz then skipped the Madrid Open because of an injury he suffered in Barcelona final.

The 22-year-old Spaniard is now 27-2 on clay since last May. For Sinner, it was his first tournament since the Australian Open this January. He was aiming to become the first Italian man to win the home tournament since Adriano Panatta in 1976.

Both the players will now focus on rest and recovery before starting their preparation for the Roland Garros, which starts on May 25. Alcaraz will enter the tournament as the defending champion. Last year, he defeated Alexander Zverev in a five-set thriller to become champion in Paris for the first time.

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