Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz LIVE: Masterful Alcaraz wins Italian Open in straight sets

Alcaraz stormed to victory after a tightly-fought second set to silence the Sinner-partisan crowd

Carlos Alcaraz holds the trophy after winning the Italian Open in Rome (AP)

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)]

[18 May 2025 18:11 · Will Castle]

Jannik Sinner 6-7 1-5 Carlos Alcaraz*

Alcaraz looks unshakeable. He wins the first two points emphatically and looks to be on the verge of the Italian Open title.

[18 May 2025 18:10 · Will Castle]

*Jannik Sinner 6-7 1-5 Carlos Alcaraz

And 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.

[18 May 2025 18:07 · Will Castle]

Jannik Sinner 6-7 0-5 Carlos Alcaraz*

Sinner 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.

[18 May 2025 18:02 · Will Castle]

BREAK! *Jannik Sinner 6-7 0-4 Carlos Alcaraz

Alcaraz 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.

(Getty Images)

[18 May 2025 17:56 · Will Castle]

Jannik Sinner 6-7 0-3 Carlos Alcaraz*

This 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.

[18 May 2025 17:52 · Will Castle]

BREAK! *Jannik Sinner 6-7 0-2 Carlos Alcaraz

This 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.

(Getty Images)

[18 May 2025 17:48 · Will Castle]

Jannik Sinner 6-7 0-1 Carlos Alcaraz*

Back 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.

[18 May 2025 17:42 · Will Castle]

SET! *Jannik Sinner 6-7 (5-7) Carlos Alcaraz

Another 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!

(Getty Images)

[18 May 2025 17:38 · Will Castle]

TIEBREAK! *Jannik Sinner 4-5 Carlos Alcaraz

The 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.

[18 May 2025 17:37 · Will Castle]

TIEBREAK! Jannik Sinner 3-4 Carlos Alcaraz*

Another 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!