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Sinner sees off Alcaraz in Monte-Carlo final to reclaim world number one status

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Jannik Sinner leapfrogged Carlos Alcaraz to reclaim top spot in the ATP rankings, following a straight-sets victory over the Spaniard in the Monte-Carlo Masters final.

The Italian prevailed 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in a thrilling championship match on Sunday that lasted two-and-a-quarter hours, maintaining his perfect record in this season's ATP Masters series.

Sinner was slow out of the blocks with Alcaraz breaking him in his opening service game on the way to a 2-0 lead.

However, the four-time major winner responded immediately and kept pace with the defending champion in an epic opening set, before finding another gear in the tie-break to draw first blood.

Alcaraz broke again in game three of the second set for an early 3-1 advantage as he looked to force his way back into the match.

Once more, though, Sinner hit back to make it 3-3. The Italian then broke in game eight to move within one of victory, which he secured with the first of two championship points – adding to his triumphs at Indian Wells and Miami.

Data Debrief: Sinner continues ATP Masters series sweep

Sinner became only the second player since the format's introduction in 1990 to win at Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo during the same season, after Novak Djokovic in 2015.

He is also just the second player, after Alcaraz himself, to defeat the ATP number one in finals on multiple surfaces.

The second Italian winner of this event, after Fabio Fognini seven years ago, Sinner registered his 17th straight ATP Masters match win of 2026. Only Djokovic (31 in 2011, 25 in 2015) and Pete Sampras (19 in 1994) have started a season with more such victories.

Sinner is also the third player in history to win four straight ATP Masters events, after Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.