Carlos Alcaraz produced a masterful performance to dispatch World No 1 Jannik Sinner and be crowned Italian Open champion for the first time.
There was nothing to separate the pair in the first set as both held firm on serve, forcing a tiebreak. Against the home favourite, Alcaraz was able to register three mini-breaks to win the tiebreak 7-5.
Sinner then began to unravel as the second set got underway, unable to penetrate any winners beyond Alcaraz as the Spaniard broke twice to storm into 5-0 lead.
While Sinner was able to avoid a bagel, Alcaraz ensured there was no capitulation and sealed the straight sets victory, beating Sinner 7-6 6-1 to silence the Rome crowd.
Follow all the action from Rome in our live blog below:
Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz LIVE
- Carlos Alcaraz beats Jannik Sinner 7-6 6-1 to claim first Italian Open title
- World No 1 Sinner falls in first shot at silverware since returning from three-month doping ban
- GAME, SET & MATCH! Alcaraz crowned Italian Open champion as he storms to victory [7-6 6-1]
- SET! Alcaraz emerges from tightly-fought first set on top with tiebreak win [7-6(5)]
No getting past Carlos Alcaraz
18:54 , Will CastleIf any point sums up that second, it’s this. A brick wall.
"How on earth has he won that point?!" 🤯
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) May 18, 2025
A HUGE backhand down the line from Carlos Alcaraz 💪 pic.twitter.com/Aj27VwsnZu
Carlos Alcaraz's crowning moment in Rome
18:43 , Will Castle"No one does it better than Carlos on clay" 🙌
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) May 18, 2025
The moment Carlos Alcaraz sealed the Italian Open title 🏆 pic.twitter.com/mz2yHXtoQY
Carlos Alcaraz gives props to the Italian crowd
18:36 , Will Castle“You were really respectful to me and when I wasn’t playing against Italian players, it was like playing at home,” Alcaraz said.
The Spaniard also congratulated the Italians for the great period of tennis the country is now enjoying, spearheaded by the likes of Sinner and Musetti.
Great sports, the pair of them.
Masterful Carlos Alcaraz dispatches Jannik Sinner in straight sets
18:27 , Will Castle
GAME, SET & MATCH! Jannik Sinner 6-7 1-6 Carlos Alcaraz*
18:14 , Will CastleCARLOS ALCARAZ IS THE ITALIAN OPEN CHAMPION!
And that’s how you win it - another sublime drop shot forces Sinner to the net, and while the Italian is able to get a return over the net, Alcaraz is there to volley into the open court.
He was just too good for the World No 1. What a performance!
Jannik Sinner 6-7 1-5 Carlos Alcaraz*
18:13 , Will CastleWow! Sinner has saved two championship points - the last of which saw him very much on the defensive - to force deuce.
Surely not?
Jannik Sinner 6-7 1-5 Carlos Alcaraz*
18:11 , Will CastleAlcaraz looks unshakeable. He wins the first two points emphatically and looks to be on the verge of the Italian Open title.
*Jannik Sinner 6-7 1-5 Carlos Alcaraz
18:10 , Will CastleAnd Sinner is on the board. A much stronger service game as the Italian holds to love.
Now he needs to break twice to keep his Italian Open dreams alive.
Jannik Sinner 6-7 0-5 Carlos Alcaraz*
18:07 , Will CastleSinner is at serious risk of being served a bagel in front of his own fans.
The Italian manages to fight back to 30-30 on the defence, but it’s another masterful drop shot, one that is simply unplayable from Alcaraz, that takes him within one point of holding.
Sinner is the World No 1. But just as the final point shows, he cannot find a winner past Alcaraz. That’s five games on the bounce, and Alcaraz is in touching distance.
BREAK! *Jannik Sinner 6-7 0-4 Carlos Alcaraz
18:02 , Will CastleAlcaraz is playing like a brick wall - NOTHING is getting past him!
Sinner hits a beauty of a forehand that the Spaniard manages to return. They continue to go strike-for-strike before Alcaraz bombs a backhand down the line to take another impressive point on the defensive.
Sinner then fluffs a difficult backhand smash and goes wide in the next to give Alcaraz two break points.
And that’s ANOTHER break for Alcaraz! It’s a bad miss from Sinner at the net, and that could be that.
Jannik Sinner 6-7 0-3 Carlos Alcaraz*
17:56 , Will CastleThis is a difficult patch for Sinner, and one he needs to snap out of if he wants to turn this second set around.
A deflection off the net cord doesn’t go the Italian’s way once again before Alcaraz plays a beautiful forehand to give himself two game points.
And that is just world class from Alcaraz - a sublime drop shot seals a third consecutive game for the Spaniard!
Sinner didn’t even try and return that. The World No 1 is looking deflated.
BREAK! *Jannik Sinner 6-7 0-2 Carlos Alcaraz
17:52 , Will CastleThis is turning into a really disciplined performance from Alcaraz. Sinner presses a bit too hard and suddenly, he finds himself 0-40 down on serve.
Alcaraz has three break points.
And he only needs the one! Alcaraz breaks to love and stuns Rome into silence.
That could be CRUCIAL.
Jannik Sinner 6-7 0-1 Carlos Alcaraz*
17:48 , Will CastleBack into clench mode. No rest for the wicked as the second set gets underway.
There was barely any separating the two in the first, and the second starts in a similar vein.
After Sinner goes 0-30 up, Alcaraz fights back under pressure to go 40-30 up. The Italian forces deuce, but Alcaraz makes no mistake over the next two points and holds.
That was nearly the perfect response from the home favourite.
SET! *Jannik Sinner 6-7 (5-7) Carlos Alcaraz
17:42 , Will CastleAnother mini break advantage lost for Alcaraz as he fumbles a first set point after losing his balance.
But with Sinner with back on serve, Alcaraz finishes with a flurry - forcing the Italian to the net with a drop shot before pouncing on a close volley to take the first!
And breathe - what a first set that was!
TIEBREAK! *Jannik Sinner 4-5 Carlos Alcaraz
17:38 , Will CastleThe net cord does not do any favours for Sinner as Alcaraz holds up his racket apologetically.
Sinner makes sure he wins the next to stay in touch, with Alcaraz firing low into the net.
TIEBREAK! Jannik Sinner 3-4 Carlos Alcaraz*
17:37 , Will CastleAnother perfect serve goes unreturned as Alcaraz looks to take control.
It appears that the Spaniard has well and truly found his first serve. That’s until Alcaraz concedes a double fault - and this is all very tight again!
TIEBREAK! *Jannik Sinner 2-3 Carlos Alcaraz
17:35 , Will CastleSinner needs to win these next two points on serve and he does, with Centre Court breathing a sigh of relief as Alcaraz into the net.
The home favourite is still in this.
TIEBREAK! Jannik Sinner 0-3 Carlos Alcaraz*
17:33 , Will CastleCarlos Alcaraz gets the first mini break of the match before blasting two of his best serves of the set to storm into a 3-0 lead.
Jannik Sinner 6-6 Carlos Alcaraz*
17:32 , Will CastleA tight, tight game as Alcaraz gets two chances at completing his recovery, with Sinner biting back both times.
At the third advantage, the Spaniard is able to get the job done and hold. We go to a tiebreak!
Jannik Sinner 6-5 Carlos Alcaraz*
17:27 , Will CastleSteady play from Sinner to take a 15-30 lead on defence.
As the crowd rouses, a superb Sinner returns allows him to take on the role of the aggressor, leading to another Alcaraz error to give him two set points!
The first chance goes awry, firing into the net. And as he goes for the jumping backhand with the ball on the rise, the World No 1 gets it all wrong and goes wide!
The Spaniard survives, for now. We go to deuce.
*Jannik Sinner 6-5 Carlos Alcaraz
17:22 , Will CastleAlcaraz is caught out a little further back than he needs to be, mistiming his shot into the net to put Sinner 15-0 up.
The Italian is then just too powerful for Alcaraz, hitting a couple vicious deep forehands onto the bassline that crumple to Spaniard.
For the first time in three games, the server then drops a point - but it isn’t enough to derail Sinner as he holds once more.
The World No 1 guarantees himself at least a tiebreak in the first.
Jannik Sinner 5-5 Carlos Alcaraz*
17:18 , Will CastleAfter not gaining an inch on his last defence, Alcaraz promptly takes control on serve as a beautifully deft drop-shot goes out of reach for Sinner, putting him 30-0 up.
The Italian then produces an unforced error to net before returning a backhand wide.
As the game has gone on, both have looked increasingly unbreakable on serve.
*Jannik Sinner 5-4 Carlos Alcaraz
17:14 , Will CastleSinner holds to love in the quickest game we’ve seen so far.
A couple chances missed from Alcaraz there, but nothing gilt-edged.
When will the first breakthrough come?
Jannik Sinner 4-4 Carlos Alcaraz*
17:11 , Will CastleSinner takes the first point but Alcaraz responds with a rocket of second serve to level.
Alcaraz stays smart and takes control of the game to hold serve comfortably, once more.
Nothing between these two.
*Jannik Sinner 4-3 Carlos Alcaraz
17:07 , Will CastleAlcaraz is growing into this game but Sinner is still able to push the Spaniard around.
A colossal forehand lands just out of Alcaraz’s reach before another big backhand wrongfoots his opponent.
Another double fault puts him under pressure but with the score at 40-30, he is able to get the job done.
Jannik Sinner 3-3 Carlos Alcaraz*
17:03 , Will CastleAlcaraz fires a lightning forehand off the line to set the tone for his serve. He goes 40-0 up and looks to have it in the bag after pulling out his trademark drop shot for the first time in the game.
He and Sinner then trade drop shots - a game of touch - with the Italian coming out on top.
And while it gets a big cheer from the crowd, it’s insignificant as Alcaraz holds on the next point.
*Jannik Sinner 3-2 Carlos Alcaraz
16:58 , Will CastleSinner takes the advantage but gets caught out with a ball at his feet, unable to find the lift from an awkward bounce as it goes into the net.
The Italian then goes just wide to give Alcaraz the first opportunity to break of the game.
After a let, Sinner finds the first serve at pressure point to force a long return from Alcaraz and momentarily take the pressure off.
Back at deuce, a superb jumping backhand forces Alcaraz from corner to corner, who can’t get his backhand over.
An intense rally ensues, with some of the crowd moaning as they think Sinner has gone long with a looping shot. However, it stays just in and Sinner is able to emerge victorious.
A crucial hold from the World No 1.
*Jannik Sinner 2-2 Carlos Alcaraz
16:53 , Will CastleThat is just wonderful from Sinner! Sprinting across the bassline, he lets one rip down the line to go 15-0 up on serve.
A back-and-forth game follows as Alcaraz appears to be caught out by Sinner’s low volley, overhitting his return to level the score at 30-30.
Both then trade points once more as it goes to deuce. This is as even as it gets.
Jannik Sinner 2-2 Carlos Alcaraz*
16:51 , Will CastleAlcaraz faces deuce on serve for the second time so far, but he handles the pressure to win the next two and hold with relative ease.
Jannik Sinner 2-1 Carlos Alcaraz*
16:49 , Will CastlePatchy start to the fourth from Alcaraz as he produces a double fault before failing to be clinical near the net, going 15-30 down.
He recovers as a short second serve forces Sinner to miscue a backhand, levelling the score. He blasts an ace onto the line to go 40-30 up.
With Alcaraz on the verge of holding, Sinner somehow finds the angle to slice it just over the net, with Alcaraz unable to respond.
Sinner takes Alcaraz to deuce once again.
*Jannik Sinner 2-1 Carlos Alcaraz
16:43 , Will CastleSinner gives away the first point but levels with an emphatic serve.
The pair then engage in a great strike-for-strike rally, which ends as Alcaraz hits into the top of the net.
Sinner goes on the aggressive with the score at 40-30 and and keeps Alcaraz deep, forcing another return into the net.
A really strong hold of serve from Sinner. We’re seeing some quality tennis so far.
Jannik Sinner 1-1 Carlos Alcaraz*
16:39 , Will CastleStrong second serve from Alcaraz forces an initial error from Sinner to take advantage.
He then fires a backhand deep, with Sinner’s return clipping off the net and going wide.
Alcaraz holds after a tight game.
Jannik Sinner 1-0 Carlos Alcaraz*
16:38 , Will CastleA couple unforced errors from both to start the second, with an Alcaraz forehand going long before Sinner puts too much on a backhand slice.
With the score at 30-30, Alcaraz wrongfoots Sinner to go within one of holding serve.
They trade backhands before Sinner rockets a superb return onto the line to force deuce.
*Jannik Sinner 1-0 Carlos Alcaraz
16:34 , Will CastleAnd we’re off!
Alcaraz starts off with a wild backhand return to concede the first point, perhaps after misreading the flight of Sinner’s short second serve.
After a forehand goes long, Sinner fires an ace to re-establish his lead, before another superb first serve forces Alcaraz’s return to go long and wide.
The nerves show as Sinner gives away a double fault with a game point, but he gets away with it as Alcaraz goes long again. Game one goes the way of the home favourite!
Carlos Alcaraz wins the toss
16:26 , Will CastleAlcaraz wins the toss... and chooses to receive.
It’s a full house in Rome. Paolini set the tone yesterday, now we see if the World No 1 can complete an Italian double. Sinner to serve.
*denotes server
Here come the players!
16:23 , Will CastleThe wait is over!
Carlos Alcaraz is first to walk out to Centre Court. He’s met by tepid applause, but it’s nothing in comparison to the reaction evoked by home favourite Jannik Sinner’s arrival!
Coin toss and final warm-ups to come.
Slight delay in Rome
16:16 , Will CastleThe length of the previous match has us waiting around beyond the scheduled 4pm start time for things to get underway here.
Yet to see any movement on the court - but it shouldn’t be too much longer.
The players are getting ready to hit the court...
16:10 , Will CastleJannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are going through their last-minute rituals ahead of their hotly-anticipated Italian Open final.
This is the final that everyone wanted. We cannot wait!
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz preparing for their HUGE Italian Open final 👀 pic.twitter.com/LAFdlh4xIs
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) May 18, 2025
What a weekend for Jasmine Paolini
16:04 , Will CastleYesterday, Jasmine Paolini became the first home winner of the Italian Open for 40 years with a dominant singles victory over Coco Gauff.
Today, she’s added doubles glory to that alongside compatriot Sara Errani.
Can Jannik Sinner follow suit in Rome? We’ll find out, next.
Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz up next!
15:54 , Will CastleAfter a nail-biting tie break, the men’s doubles final is all over as top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic come out 13-11 victors. A three-hour-plus epic to whet the appetite!
Now, Centre Court’s attention turns to the main event. This is your 10-minute warning for Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz!
Will Sinner lift silverware in his first tournament back from suspension? Or will Alcaraz keep up his strong record against the World No 1?
Stay tuned for all the action from Rome, up next.
Jannik Sinner considered quitting tennis before accepting doping ban
15:40 , Will CastleJannik Sinner revealed he considered quitting tennis before accepting a three-month doping ban.
The Italian was asked in an interview with state broadcaster RAI whether he considered giving up tennis and replied: “Yes, yes.
“I remember before the Australian Open this year, I was not in a very happy moment because there was still that case of doping.
“I didn't feel comfortable and then I said, maybe after Australia, a little bit of free time, in the sense where I take a little break it will do me good.”
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Jannik Sinner considered quitting tennis before accepting doping ban
Men's doubles final goes to tiebreak on Centre Court
15:36 , Will CastleAfter French duo Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul saved the second set in the men’s doubles final, we go to a match tiebreak on Centre Court ahead of Sinner vs Alcaraz.
This comes after Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini secured the first home triumph of the day in the women’s doubles final - making it two wins for Paolini, who won the women’s singles yesterday.
A good day for the Italians so far...
Why was Jannik Sinner banned?
15:30 , Will CastlePrior to the Italian Open, Jannik Sinner had not played since winning the Australian Open in January for his third grand slam title after the Italian reached a resolution agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
WADA were initially pushing for a ban of between one and two years at the Court of Arbitration for Sport after he twice tested positive for a banned substance in March last year. However, Sinner reached a settlement of three months, with a senior WADA figure insisting the World No 1’s case was a “million miles away from doping”.
While Sinner admitted “partial responsibility” for the mistakes made by his team that led to him twice positive for traces of clostebol, WADA withdrew its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that asked for a ban of up to two years following the initial decision by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) not to suspend him.
Carlos Alcaraz: Jannik Sinner's kryptonite?
15:20 , Will CastleJannik Sinner has won 26 consecutive matches going into today’s final. Who was the last player to beat him?
Well, it was Carlos Alcaraz at the China Open in October. And that was no one-off for the Spaniard.
Alcaraz won all three matches against Sinner last year, including on clay in the French Open semi-finals, and he leads the overall head-to-head 6-4 against the Italian.
With home advantage, Sinner will hope to deal some revenge against his rival. However, Alcaraz has already proven he knows how to quell a partisan crowd, having beaten Italian player Lorenzo Musetti in the semi-finals.
When is French Open?
15:10 , Will CastleIt’s clay-court season, meaning we are well on the road to Roland Garros.
The French Open looks set to stage one of the most wide-open Grand Slams in recent years as Paris once again hosts the iconic tournament.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Jannik Sinner received ‘surprising messages’ from fellow players during doping ban
15:00 , Will CastleJannik Sinner revealed he received some “surprising messages” from fellow players during his three-month doping ban, with the World No 1 also admitting he was surprised by the players who did not reach out.
“At the start of the suspension I received some surprising messages from some players,” Sinner said ahead of his return at the Italian Open.
“Whereas there were others who I would have expected to hear from that didn't send anything. But I'm not going to name names."
Jannik Sinner received ‘surprising messages’ from fellow players during doping ban
WATCH: Tennis fan Pope Leo XIV makes peace with Sinner during Italian Open off-day
14:50 , Will CastlePope Leo XIV has made peace with Jannik Sinner.
The top-ranked tennis player visited the new pope on Wednesday, gave him a tennis racket and offered to play, during an off-day for Sinner at the Italian Open.
How did Sinner and Alcaraz reach the Italian Open final?
14:40 , Will CastleJannik Sinner came from a set down to claim victory over Tommy Paul and set up a meeting with Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Italian Open.
The World No 1 needed to do it the hard way against Paul after struggling in the first set, but rallied to clinch a 1-6 6-0 6-3 triumph for his 26th successive match win.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, booked his spot in Sunday's final after defeating Italian Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets earlier on Friday.
The world number three comfortably took the first set in just under an hour and battled back from 3-1 down in the next set to put his name in the Rome showpiece.
Jannik Sinner fights back to set up Carlos Alcaraz clash in Italian Open final
Jannik Sinner looking to follow in stead of home hero Jasmine Paolini
14:30 , Will CastleJasmine Paolini became the first home winner of the Italian Open for 40 years with a dominant victory over Coco Gauff.
The 29-year-old, who reached the final of the French Open and Wimbledon last year in a breakthrough season, delighted the fans at the Foro Italico with a 6-4 6-2 success.
No Italian had won one of the two singles titles in Rome since Raffaella Reggi back in 1985 but Paolini thoroughly merited her triumph, while Jannik Sinner could make it a home double when he faces Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday.
Home hero Jasmine Paolini makes Italian Open history with victory over Coco Gauff
Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz head-to-head
14:20 , Will CastleThe Italian Open final will be Alcaraz and Sinner’s 11th career meeting. Alcaraz leads the head-to-head 6-4.
2024: China Open, final, outdoor hard - Alcaraz wins in three sets
2024: Roland Garros, semi-final, outdoor clay - Alcaraz wins in five sets
2024: Indian Wells, semi-final, outdoor hard - Alcaraz wins in three sets
2023: China Open, semi-final, outdoor hard - Sinner wins in two sets
2023: Miami Open, semi-final, outdoor hard - Sinner wins in three sets
2023: Indian Wells, semi-final, outdoor hard - Alcaraz wins in two sets
2022: US Open, quarter-final, outdoor hard - Alcaraz wins in five sets
2022: Umag, final, outdoor clay - Sinner wins in three sets
2022: Wimbledon, round of 16, grass - Sinner wins in four sets
2021: Paris Masters, round of 32, indoor hard - Alcaraz wins in two sets
Is Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz on TV? How to watch Italian Open
14:10 , Will CastleAlcaraz and Sinner are set to meet in the Italian Open final on Sunday 18 May. The match is scheduled to begin at 4pm BST (UK time).
How can I watch the Italian Open final?
Sky Sports has the rights for the Italian Open and will be showing Alcaraz vs Sinner on Sky Sports Tennis.
If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz LIVE
14:00 , Will CastleGood afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of what promises to be a blockbuster Italian Open final.
World No 1 Jannik Sinner is vying for silverware in his first tournament back from suspension, on home soil no less. But standing in his way is Carlos Alcaraz, who was the last man to beat the Italian all the way back at October’s China Open.
The two young rivals have won the last five grand slam titles, with Sinner winning three in a row on the hard-courts of the Australian Open and the US Open and Alcaraz conquering the other surfaces by winning the French Open and Wimbledon.
It’s a real clash of titans. Stay tuned for all the build-up and action from Rome.
