Carlos Alcaraz stunned home favourite Jannik Sinner to capture his maiden Italian Open title, ending the world number one’s 26-match winning streak with a commanding 7-6 6-1 victory on Sunday.
The Spaniard’s win not only halted Sinner’s dream run but also denied Italy its first men’s singles champion in Rome since 1976.
Although Sinner came into the final with high hopes, especially after returning from a three-month doping ban, it was Alcaraz who rose to the occasion.
The defending French Open champion held his nerve in a tense first-set tiebreak. He saved two crucial set points to shift the momentum in his favour.
With confidence growing, Alcaraz showcased his brilliance in the second set. The star dominated every rally and needed just 33 minutes to close out the match. Despite the pressure from a home crowd, he stayed composed, finishing with a flawless cross-court volley at the net.
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After the win, Alcaraz praised his opponent’s resilience. He acknowledged how remarkable it was for Sinner to reach the final after such a long layoff.
“I’m proud of how I handled the match mentally,” he said. “From the first point to the last, I stayed focused and executed my tactics perfectly.”
Sinner’s impressive unbeaten streak had stretched back to October 2024. It, that run ended against the same opponent who last beat him — Alcaraz in Beijing. However, despite the heartbreak in Rome, the Italian star showed flashes of brilliance and will surely remain a top contender moving forward.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz celebrated his Rome breakthrough with optimism, expressing hope that this triumph marks the beginning of more glory on Italian clay.
Paolini wins historic Italian Open title
Meanwhile, a day earlier, Jasmine Paolini made history by defeating Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2 to win the 2025 Italian Open women’s singles title.
Backed by a passionate home crowd, including President Sergio Mattarella, she became the first Italian woman to claim the title since 1985.
The 29-year-old sealed the straight-sets win in just 89 minutes, adding to her breakthrough Grand Slam runs last season.
