Jannik Sinner's Monte Carlo masterclass lays down early marker for season ahead

[p]After completing the "Sunshine Double" of hardcourt titles at ‌Indian Wells and Miami, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Sinner[/a] was widely expected to skip Monte ‌Carlo to recharge his batteries but the 24-year-old Italian was keen to build momentum.[/p][p]His ‌[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/alcaraz-garfia-c-UkhgIFEq/sinner-j-6HdC3z4H/?mid=6ye8F0kT"]7-6(5) 6-3[/a] victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Alcaraz[/a] earned him his first big ‌title on the sport's slowest surface and made him the only player after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a] in 2015 to claim the first three Masters titles of a season.[/p][p][b]"It's not easy ‌at all. I'm surprised in a very good ⁠way,"[/b] Sinner told reporters.[/p][p]While Sinner arrived ‌early nL4N40408X at Indian Wells last month to prepare his body for the heat ​of the Californian desert, his focus ahead of Monte Carlo was more tactical, centred on refining shot selection and adapting to each ​opponent.[/p][p][b]"Every day I wake up and I try to improve and get better as a player," [/b]Sinner explained.[/p][p]"Here, we did it day by day ⁠trying to understand what the ​best style is against every opponent, because I haven't played the same kind of tennis against everyone.[/p][p][b]"It means a lot to me and I'll need a bit of time to realise what happened. It's going to be good ‌having some days off now away from the courts.[/b][/p][p]"Everything was quite hectic, one tournament to the other, so we'll see what's coming next."[/p][embed guid="8c8ccad9-694c-4ff0-ad0e-af32de79a167" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2043376673769304407" social-type="twitter" /][p]Sinner is expected to return to action in Madrid later this month or in Rome at the beginning of May. His coach, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vagnozzi-simone/n9Msh9Kn/"]Simone Vagnozzi[/a], said the Monte Carlo week provided clear evidence of the Italian's progress on clay.[/p][p][b]"We're really happy because after the first two matches he started to feel better, more drop shots, more variation with the height of the ball and with the ‌serve,"[/b] Vagnozzi said.[/p][p]"We're really impressed with his level."[/p][p]The Monte Carlo title will ​give Sinner a psychological boost with the French Open just around ‌the corner.[/p][p]Alcaraz, who beat his rival in last year's Roland Garros final over five sets, is fully aware how much Sinner has improved on clay.[/p][p][b]"We've seen Jannik's level on clay and I think he's been improving a lot year by year,"[/b] said Alcaraz.[/p][p]"He's reaching a level ⁠on clay that's going to be ⁠really dangerous for everybody."[/p][p]The French ‌Open main draw begins on May 24.[/p]