By Ayomide Otitoju
Carlos Alcaraz captured the 2024 Italian Open title on Sunday, defeating world number one Jannik Sinner 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in a commanding performance that underlined his status as a top contender for the upcoming Roland Garros tournament.
Alcaraz, who will move up to world number two in Monday’s ATP rankings, won his third title of the season with a dominant display against his rival before over 10,000 fans at the Foro Italico.
“Beating Jannik and winning in Rome gives me great confidence going into Paris,” Alcaraz said post-match. “I’ll take some time to enjoy this win with my team and then refocus on Roland Garros.”
The Spaniard has now defeated Sinner in back-to-back tour finals, having previously beaten him at the China Open. Alcaraz becomes the only player to beat Sinner in a tour final since the Italian began his rise to the top of men’s tennis in early 2024.
Despite a recent thigh injury that kept him out of Madrid, the 22-year-old has had a stellar clay court season, also winning in Monte Carlo and reaching the final in Barcelona.
Sinner, competing in his first tournament since serving a suspension related to accidental doping contamination, let two set points slip in the first set—an error that marked the turning point of the match.
Earlier, Italy’s Jasmine Paolini made history by winning both the singles and doubles titles in Rome, the first woman to do so since Monica Seles in 1990. She claimed the doubles crown with partner Sara Errani, defeating Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens 6-4, 7-5, a day after her singles triumph over Coco Gauff.
