Sinner downs Alcaraz to win first Monte Carlo Masters title and reclaim top ranking

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/alcaraz-garfia-c-UkhgIFEq/sinner-j-6HdC3z4H/?mid=6ye8F0kT"]Sinner downed Alcaraz 7-6(5), 6-3[/a] to capture his third ATP 1000 title of the year after completing the "Sunshine Double" last month with victories in Indian Wells and Miami.[/p][p]The 24-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Sinner[/a] joins [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nadal-rafael/xUwlUnRK/"]Rafael Nadal[/a] as only the third player to win four successive ATP 1000 titles. He also triumphed in Paris at the end of last season.[/p][p][b]"We came here trying to get as many matches as possible, getting good feedback before other big tournaments coming up. Today was a high level from both of us,"[/b] Sinner said.[/p][p]"It was a bit windy, a bit breezy. Different conditions from what the tournament has brought. The result is amazing. Getting back to No. 1 means a lot for me...[/p][p][b]"I am very happy to win a big title on this surface. I haven't done it before, and it means a lot to me."[/b][/p][embed guid="6a1c8536-32ea-45d8-9407-c3a115508320" url="https://x.com/ROLEXMCMASTERS/status/2043359822712615311" social-type="twitter" /][p]It was the first meeting between Sinner and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Alcaraz[/a] since the Italian prevailed at the ATP Finals in November.[/p][p]Sinner, who is now 7-10 in his career against Alcaraz, will return to the top of the rankings Monday for the first time this year.[/p][p]He has won his last 17 matches and becomes the first man since Djokovic in 2015 to win the first three ATP 1000 titles of the season.[/p][p][b]"It is impressive what you are achieving right now,"[/b] Alcaraz said to Sinner during the trophy ceremony.[/p][p][b]"Just one man had won the 'Sunshine Double' and Monte Carlo, and you are the second."[/b][/p][image alt="Italy's Jannik Sinner hugs Spain's Carlos Alcaraz after winning their final in Monte Carlo" id="18c88769-18e5-4471-8b29-1fdda0a780ce" credit-line="Reuters / Manon Cruz" guid="2121169a-c9ef-4b78-abf5-e9a0329dcb8b" original-width="2546" original-height="1726" /][p]Alcaraz had won his past 17 matches on clay, dating back to last season when he lifted titles in Rome and at Roland Garros.[/p][p]He jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Sinner pushed a forehand long in blustery conditions, but the Italian broke back in the following game as he gradually found his rhythm.[/p][p]The Spaniard fought off a break point in the fifth game and three more at 4-4, but Sinner's greater consistency paid off in the tie-break, which he secured when Alcaraz hit a double fault down set point.[/p][p]Alcaraz won a sensational rally to break Sinner's serve early in the second set, but the second seed continued to put pressure on his opponent and rallied from 3-1 down, taking the last five games to clinch the biggest clay-court title of his career.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/atp-singles/monte-carlo/"]Catch up on the Monte Carlo Masters here.[/a][/b][/p]