Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner 7-6, 6-1 to claim the Italian Open – the last Masters 1000 tournament in the lead-up to the Roland Garros.
The 22-year-old Spaniard was too hot to handle for the world No.1 Sinner and broke his 26-match winning streak en route to a thumping win. The win helped Alcaraz achieve an impressive feat. He joined Sinner in the list of most tour-level trophies won among players born in the 2000s. Both Sinner and Alcaraz have 19 titles to their names. As per Opta, Alcaraz, at 22 years and two days, became the fifth youngest player in the Open Era to win 10+ ATP titles event on Clay after Mats Wilander, Rafael Nadal, Kent Carlsson, and Bjorn Borg. He also became the fifth player since 1990 to claim a title at three separate ATP Masters events on clay after Marcelo Rios, Gustavo Kuerten, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.The win at the Italian Open has made Alcaraz one of the favourites to win the upcoming French Open. He started the clay-court season by winning the Monte Carlo Masters and followed it up with a runners-up finish in Barcelona before winning maiden title in Rome.”I am really happy to get my first title in Rome. Hopefully, it’s not going to be my last one. All eyes are on Paris now, on Roland Garros,” Alcaraz said after his triumph on Sunday.”Beating Jannik, winning Rome – both things together give me great confidence heading into Paris. I always say, ‘The final is not about playing, the final is about winning’. I just repeat that approach every time I play a final,” he added.Alcaraz was also effusive in praise for Jannik Sinner, who made a comeback to tennis, saying that it was incredible to see Sinner play at that level after missing three months of action.”The first thing I want to say is that I’m just really happy to see Jannik back at this amazing level. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for him coming back after three months and reaching the final of a Masters 1000 in his first tournament back. It’s something incredible, so I have to congratulate him,” Alcaraz said.