Sinner Falls Short in Italian Open Final Against Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Italian Open final, despite having set points in the first set. Read the match report.

Jannik Sinner described his Italian Open final loss to Carlos Alcaraz as a “good lesson” ahead of the French Open. Sinner's defeat marked his first tournament since a three-month doping ban.

Alcaraz claimed his first Rome title with a 7-6(5), 6-1 win over Sinner. The Spanish star fought off two set points in the opening set before dominating the second set to secure the victory.

The loss snapped Jannik Sinner's 26-match winning streak, with Carlos Alcaraz making it four consecutive wins over the world No. 1. Alcaraz had previously beaten Sinner in Beijing last year.

Carlos Alcaraz to Jannik Sinner after beating him in Rome final:

“You’ve been out from the tour for 3 months. I can't imagine how tough. I can't imagine how tough and difficult it was for you, your family, your team... and coming back to tour here at your home, a really special… pic.twitter.com/BGSdvAJf8F

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 18, 2025

Despite the defeat, Sinner expressed satisfaction with his performance, saying, “First set for sure was a little bit of a game-changer. But talking general, very happy about this tournament.” He added that the experience would give him confidence heading into the French Open. Sinner hadn't played since winning the Australian Open in late January.

Jannik Sinner, who served a doping ban after testing positive for clostebol, said that coming back to the court after three months and reaching the final “means a lot to me.”

Sinner had been cleared to compete after accepting the ban, which was due to contamination. He lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Italian Open final.

“It's something very, very special playing here in Italy, in Rome. They pick me up like a small child, no? The support was amazing.

“For sure there are some things like we saw today what we have to improve if we want to do good in Paris. I am closer than expected in a way of everything. But in the other way, it was good. It was a great week for me.

“Some matches (I played) incredibly well, some matches could be better. But this is tennis. It's a lot of ups and downs. But no, everything together, it was a good, good tournament.”

Carlos Alcaraz extended his head-to-head lead over Jannik Sinner to 7-4, following his win in the Italian Open final. Their rivalry includes a memorable five-set match at the French Open semifinals last year.

Sinner had planned to play in Hamburg next week but will instead take extra rest after his impressive return at the Foro Italico. “If I would go back, I would play a couple of points in different way, that's for sure. I'm lacking some matches,” Sinner said, reflecting on missed opportunities, including failing to convert set points in the first set when Alcaraz served at 5-6.

“There's no excuses, though. It's just that what I feel, if I would play them again, I would play them in different ways.

“I played the maximum of matches here in Rome, which is very good. Now I have one week off, which is good for me. A couple of days to switch off mentally, and then being ready for an even more important tournament.”

Jannik Sinner after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in Rome final:

“Special thank you to my brother who rather than being here is in Imola watching Formula 1.” 😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/8nPvHGZ7Vd

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 18, 2025