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Carlos Alcaraz Claims Italian Open Title, Sends Message to Roland Garros Rivals

Carlos Alcaraz defeats Jannik Sinner to win the Italian Open, sending a strong warning ahead of Roland Garros 2024.

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Carlos Alcaraz Claims Italian Open Title, Sends Message to Roland Garros Rivals

Carlos Alcaraz captured the Italian Open on Sunday after defeating nemesis Jannik Sinner 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in the final and sending a warning shot for Roland Garros. Carlos Alcaraz, who will rise to world number two behind Sinner on Monday, collected his third title this season, dominating Sinner in the end and quieting the more than 10,000 fans packed into the centre court seats.

Confidence Boost for Carlos Alcaraz Ahead of Roland Garros

The Spaniard won his fourth final of the year and issued a warning to the rest of the men’s tour for the French Open, where he will be defending the title once it begins next weekend. “Beating Jannik and winning in Rome, I think both things mixed together give you a great confidence coming to Paris,” said Carlos Alcaraz.

“I’m going to enjoy this moment with my family, with my team, friends that came from home. And a few days rest just to realise what I’ve achieved, that is important as well. And then my focus is on Roland Garros.”

Sinner leads the world rankings but his 26-match winning streak was halted by Carlos Alcaraz, the same player who had last defeated him in the final of last year’s China Open.

Impressive Clay Court Season by Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz is the sole player to conquer Sinner in a tour final since the beginning of 2024 when his Italian nemesis started his ascension to the pinnacle of men’s tennis and three Grand Slam titles.

The 22-year-old has recorded a phenomenally impressive clay court swing this season despite the thigh injury that denied him the opportunity to play at the Madrid Open. Alcaraz won the second Masters 1000 title of the year in Rome to complement his triumph at Monte Carlo last month. He also made it to the final in Barcelona.

Sinner’s Encouraging Performance After Suspension

Coming second is also an enormously encouraging performance for Sinner in his first tournament after serving his three-month suspension for twice testing positive in March last year to the presence of traces of clostebol, a contamination doping authorities acknowledged as inadvertent.

Sinner let two set points slip in game 12 of the first set and that was the turning point in the match, with Alcaraz rattling off the first three points of the tie-break before going ahead in the match.

Alcaraz then moved through the gears to win the first five games of the second set as he powered to a first Rome crown.

The Future of Men’s Tennis: Alcaraz vs Sinner

Sinner’s encouraging comeback however sets up the prospect of a repeat last-round showdown with Alcaraz at Roland Garros, with the men’s game’s two young stars to be the two seeds in Paris.

Sinner told in court that Alcaraz would be “the man to beat” at Paris and then humorously thanked his brother Mark for “prefering to go to Imola to see the Formula One Grand Prix rather than being here.”

The 23-year-old was aiming to be the first Italian male player to claim victory at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta in 1976, but he did not make it a home hat-trick of victories in the Italian capital.

Jasmine Paolini’s Historic Double Triumph

Jasmine Paolini previously became the first woman since Monica Seles in 1990 to claim the Rome singles and doubles titles as she and Sara Errani defeated Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens 6-4, 7-5.

Paolini won that double of triumph a day after she defeated past US Open champion Coco Gauff in straight sets and as the first Italian woman to win the Rome singles title since Raffaella Reggi in 1985.