Fans at the Foro Italico were treated to a fantastic final showdown between world no. 1 Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who has been on a hot ride as he went on to claim his seventh ATP Masters 1000 title as he cruised for straight sets against the defending champion of the Italian Open.

Of course, the expectation for this clash was an Italian fairy tale like last year’s. However, Alcaraz made sure that he would be able to crash the party, and so he did as he went on to score wins in straight sets to close out the world no. 1 and defending champion. That also snapped Sinner’s 26-match winning streak that spanned from last year.

Alcaraz sealed the ordeal in just an hour and 44 minutes to secure his 19th tour-level trophy. That victory now sees him tied with Sinner as the player with the most tour-level trophies among those ATP stars born in the 2000s. Now, Alcaraz shifts his focus to the next task at hand – the French Open.

A Winning Groove

Alcaraz came, saw, and conquered this iconic tournament in Rome. He saved two set points in a tight opener before he carried the same pace heading into the final set. The Spanish star defeated Sinner in a 7-6 (5) and 6-1 affair in the final of the Italian Open with ease, extending his dominance in their head-to-head series at 7-4.

“I’m just really happy to get my first Rome title, hopefully it’s not going to be the last one,” said Alcaraz. “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 making the final of a Masters 1000 in his first tournament back. It’s something insane, so I have to congratulate him.”

This match was no different for Alcaraz, who approached it with a gritty mentality and proved that he can be a masterful player on different facets as well. Alcaraz played well from the first point all the way to the final one, keeping his level mindset and showing that he can win on different play styles as well.

Alcaraz now also becomes the first player to claim three ATP Tour titles this season, and the first to score multiple titles in the clay campaign. He also leads the Tour this season with 30 wins and is the fifth man to win all ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in the clay, joining the elite company of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Gustavo Kuerten and Marcelo Rios.

Building a Strong Pace

Alcaraz had to pull out from the Madrid Open due to an adductor injury. His return to form in Rome was a promising sight, and he only lost one set en route to the title. Since last May, Alcaraz stands at a 27-2 record in that regard, and now he has his eyes on the Roland Garros campaign now more than ever.

“All eyes are on Paris right now, on Roland Garros,” said Alcaraz. “Beating Jannik, winning Rome, both things mix together and give me great confidence going to Paris. I always say ‘The final is not about playing, the final is about winning’. I just repeat that approach everytime I play a final.”

Alcaraz is one of the elite players on clay, and it cannot be denied that he is starting to earn a massive reputation of high-level performances in that surface. This recent swing at the Italian Open says it all, and he may be able to cap off a huge finish in the clay as well.