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 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 3-2 Carlos Alcaraz
Sinner 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
That 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*
Alcaraz 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*
Patchy 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
Sinner 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*
Strong 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*
A 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
And 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
Alcaraz 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
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