Carlos Alcaraz continues to have Jannik Sinner's number

In his first tournament after serving a three-month ban, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner steamrolled his competition at Rome en route to the final.

Then, he ran into Carlos Alcaraz, the man who has his number. In a familiar turn of events, Alcaraz beat Sinner, 7-6, 6-1, to extend his head-to-head record against the Italian to 7-4, clinching the seventh career Masters 1000 title. 

Sinner had similar trouble against Alcaraz in 2024. Although he dominated the Tour with a 73-6 record, he lost all three matches to Alcaraz — at Beijing, Roland Garros and Indian Wells. Since August 2024, Sinner has maintained an immaculate 41-2 record on the Tour, with Alcaraz responsible for both defeats. 

So, what is it about running into Sinner? Alcaraz admittedly plays with more focus when squaring off against his Italian foe.

"He's the best player in the world," Alcaraz said of Sinner, via ATP Tour. "...That's why I'm even more focused when I play against him. If I don't play at my best, 10 out of 10, it's going to be impossible to beat him...He has that aura. When you're seeing him on the other side of the net, it's different."

Meanwhile, Sinner downplayed the head-to-head record against Alcaraz and instead focused on the positives. 

"...After three months, coming here, making this result means a lot to me," he said, via France 24. "...If I would go back, I would play a couple of points in different way, that's for sure. I'm lacking some matches. There's no excuses, though"

The world's best two players could be on a collision course again in the finals of the upcoming French Open. With Alcaraz returning to World No. 2, the two men are assured to be in opposite draws. Alcaraz was previously slated to be seeded third in Paris, where he will be defending his Roland Garros title after his maiden win last year.