Carlos Alcaraz continues to etch his name into the history books of tennis, this time by conquering the prestigious clay courts of Rome. The Spanish sensation captured his first-ever Internazionali BNL d’Italia title on Sunday with a commanding straight-sets victory over world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, winning 7-6(5), 6-1 in front of a packed crowd at the Foro Italico.
The win not only marks Alcaraz’s maiden triumph in Rome, but also reinforces his position as one of the most dominant players on the ATP Tour today. Displaying a mix of mental toughness and trademark flair, the 21-year-old handled the pressure of a high-stakes final with poise well beyond his years.
The opening set saw both players locked in a fierce battle. Sinner, cheered on by his home crowd, held firm through the early exchanges and nearly took the set when he earned two set points at 5-6, 15-40. But Alcaraz, showing nerves of steel, saved both and pushed the set to a tiebreak. From there, he quickly built a 3-0 lead and maintained control to take the set 7-6(5).
With momentum fully on his side, Alcaraz took full flight in the second set. He raced to a 5-0 lead, using his signature mix of explosive baseline play and deft touch at the net to leave Sinner struggling to respond. The Italian star, who has been one of the most consistent players on tour this season, couldn’t find an answer to Alcaraz’s relentless pace and precision. In just over 90 minutes, the Spaniard sealed the title in emphatic fashion.
Alcaraz’s victory is historic in more ways than one. Not only is it his third title of the 2025 season and the 19th of his young career, but he also became the first player to defeat Jannik Sinner in straight sets since late 2023. That alone speaks volumes about the level he brought to this final.
“This title means a lot to me,” Alcaraz said after the match. “I’ve always dreamed of winning here in Rome. To do it against a player like Jannik, in his home country, is very special. He’s been playing incredible tennis, so I had to be at my very best today.”
The Rome title adds another Masters 1000 trophy to Alcaraz’s growing collection and positions him perfectly heading into the remainder of the clay-court season. With Roland Garros looming, this performance serves as a strong statement to the rest of the field: Carlos Alcaraz is ready, and he’s hungry for more.
As for Sinner, despite the loss, his form throughout the tournament remains impressive, and he’ll look to regroup ahead of the next Grand Slam. But in Rome, it was Alcaraz’s moment—one that fans won’t soon forget.