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Carlos Alcaraz clinched his first Internazionali BNL d’Italia title, defeating Jannik Sinner in the final with a commanding 7-6(5), 6-1 win. A tough loss for the world No. 1, who was making his comeback after a three-month layoff, but it doesn’t take away from a remarkable week in Rome.
The final was a tale of two sets: a tightly contested opener, decided in the tiebreak by a more clinical Alcaraz, followed by a one-sided second set where Sinner ran out of steam and struggled to maintain his rhythm.
Sinner had two set points at 6-5 in the first, but couldn’t convert. That proved to be the turning point. “I’m still lacking a bit of intensity, but I’m proud of what I achieved this week,” Jannik said in his post-match press conference. With Alcaraz now leading their head-to-head 8-4, this rivalry looks set to define an era.
The joy for Italian tennis, however, came courtesy of Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani, who added another chapter to their incredible doubles journey. The Paris 2024 Olympic champions captured the women's doubles title, beating Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 7-5.
In both sets, the Italians came back from 0-4 down, once again showcasing their grit, chemistry, and mental toughness. Their celebration ended with a celebratory dive into the pool — the perfect symbol of two legendary weeks for Italian tennis in Rome.
