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Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz in Monte Carlo to reclaim world No.1 and extend a dominant Masters 1000 winning streak.
Jannik Sinner has reclaimed the upper hand in his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz, defeating the Spaniard 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to win the Monte Carlo Masters and return to world No.1.
The Italian's victory on Sunday, Monday AEST, marked his first major title on clay and the beginning of a third stint atop the rankings.
It is the fourth time the pair have exchanged the No.1 position, reinforcing a rivalry that continues to define the current era.
Sinner's win was not a classic by their standards. Windy conditions at Monte Carlo disrupted rhythm and contributed to a combined 83 unforced errors.
Even so, he proved steadier in key moments, particularly in the opening tiebreak, where his serving held firm while Alcaraz faltered with a double fault on set point.
Sinner later acknowledged the conditions and the broader significance of the result, saying the team had focused on building form ahead of bigger tournaments, and that returning to No.1 carried strong personal meaning.
He also noted the challenging weather but welcomed securing a major clay title.
The 24-year-old has now claimed four consecutive Masters 1000 titles, following victories in Paris, Indian Wells and Miami. That run mirrors a rare achievement previously managed only by Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz, who had arrived on a 17-match clay winning streak, briefly threatened in the second set by moving 3-1 ahead. Sinner responded immediately, reeling off four straight games to close the match in just over two hours.
The Spaniard, speaking at the presentation, acknowledged the scale of Sinner's achievement and the difficulty of sustaining such a run, particularly across surfaces.
Sinner's latest triumph also narrows their head-to-head deficit to 7-10, easing what had been a growing gap. He has now won 22 consecutive matches at Masters 1000 level.
Their rivalry, already highlighted by last year's French Open final, looks set for another chapter as the clay season builds towards Paris. For now, momentum has shifted decisively back to Sinner.
