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Sports / Tennis

Sinner beats Alcaraz to win Monte Carlo Masters, returns to No.1

Published: 12 Apr 2026 - 07:13 pm | Last Updated: 12 Apr 2026 - 07:20 pm
Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament final tennis match against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)

Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament final tennis match against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)

AFP

Monte Carlo, Principality of Monaco: Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets to win the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time Sunday and reclaim the world number one ranking from his Spanish rival.

Sinner downed Alcaraz 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to capture his third ATP 1000 title of the year after completing the "Sunshine Double" last month with victories in Indian Wells and Miami.


Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates with the trophy after winning the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament final tennis match against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Valery Hache/ AFP)

The 24-year-old Sinner joins Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as only the third player to win four successive ATP 1000 titles, having also triumphed in Paris at the end of last season.

It was the first meeting between Sinner and Alcaraz since the Italian prevailed at the ATP Finals in November.

Sinner, who is now 7-10 in his career against Alcaraz, will return to the top of the rankings Monday for the first time this year.

He has won his last 17 matches and becomes the first man since Djokovic in 2015 to win the first three ATP 1000 titles of the season.