Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets to win the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time on Sunday and reclaim the world number one from his Spanish rival.
Sinner downed 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.
The 24-year-old Sinner joins Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as only the third player to win four consecutive ATP 1000 titles. He also triumphed in Paris at the end of last season.
“We came here to try to get as many matches as possible and get good feedback before other big tournaments coming up. Today was a high level from both of us,” said Sinner.
“It was a little windy, a little windy. Different conditions than what the tournament has brought. The result is fantastic.
“Getting back to No. 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 at the ATP final in November.
Sinner, now 7-10 in his career against Alcaraz, returns to the top of the rankings 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 accomplishing right now,” Alcaraz told Sinner during the trophy ceremony. “Only one man had won the ‘Sunshine Double’ and the Monte Carlo, and you are the other.”
Alcaraz had won his last 17 matches on clay dating back to last season when he lifted titles in Rome and Roland Garros.
He admitted that Sinner performed better when it mattered most on Sunday.
“I would say that the important moments, the important points, I didn’t play well. I think I had so many opportunities in the match that I didn’t take,” Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Sinner pushed a forehand long in windy conditions, but the Italian broke back in the following game as he gradually found his rhythm.
The Spaniard fought back from 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 secured when Alcaraz hit a double fault down set point.
‘Dangerous for everyone’
Alcaraz won a sensational rally to break Sinner’s serve early in the second set, but the second seed continued to put pressure on his opponent and rallied from 3-1 down, taking the last five games to win the biggest court title of his career.
“It was an incredible week,” said Sinner, pleased with the smooth transition he made from hard courts.
“I’m surprised in a very good way. I think I still need some time to realize what happened.”
Sinner has hinted he may skip the Madrid Open, where he has no points to defend after missing last year’s tournament while serving a three-month doping ban, to focus on his main goal of winning the French Open.
He had three championship points in an epic Roland Garros final in 2025 but was unable to convert as Alcaraz staged a miraculous comeback – although Sinner looks set for another title challenge.
“I think he’s reaching a level on clay that will be really dangerous for everyone,” Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz heads to Barcelona next week and intends to play a full clay season, health permitting, after injury forced him out of Madrid 12 months ago.
“I hear my body a lot better than last year, for sure,” Alcaraz said. “If my body stays healthy, I will do whatever it takes to be healthy and take care of my body. If I don’t have any problems, I will play everything on clay.”
