A dominant Jannik Sinner dethroned reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz (7-6, 6-3) to not only take the Monte-Carlo Masters crown but also to replace the Spaniard as the world’s No.1.
You can’t say that Alcaraz was caught by surprise. Of the two finalists, it is the Spaniard who is the clay court specialist, but Sinner, who approached this one as the favourite. The Italian had won the previous three Masters tournaments without losing a single set, becoming the first player to pull off the feat. Whilst his run of 37 consecutive set wins came to an end in the quarter-finals of the Monte-Carlo Masters, he dispatched world No.3 Alexander Zverev in straight sets in the semi-final.
Sinner evokes a “strange” final
The Italian’s form was not lost on Alcaraz, who said at the start of the week that he was resigned to losing his top spot to Sinner either “at this tournament or at the next” and, approaching Sunday’s final, he said that he”could lose to Sinner on any surface”, including on clay. For Sinner, the Monte-Carlo Masters is a tournament to prepare for the clay court season. He admitted that he did not feel entirely at ease on the surface, even if he does often train at the Monte-Carlo Country Club. By the end of the week, he was comfortable enough to dispatch the reigning champion and now-former world No.1.
It was nonetheless Alcaraz who landed the first blow, a reminder of who is king on clay; breaking back immediately, Sinner reaffirmed who is the man of the moment. In blustery and grey conditions at the MCCC, this wasn’t the most aesthetic Monte-Carlo Masters final. It had an effect on the game too, creating a “strange” game, in Sinner’s words, a “difficult” one in the words of Alcaraz.
“It swirled. One minute, the wind was working in your favour, the next it was against you […] it’s true that he (Sinner) plays well when there is a lot of wind,” added the Spaniard. Fatigue, the Italian added, was also a factor for both players, but for Sinner, it didn’t show.
A double fault from Alcaraz in the ninth game provided the chance for Sinner to break, but it wouldn’t be taken. It was another double fault from the Spaniard, who lacked his usual imperiousness on serve, that handed Sinner the first set in the tie-break (7-5). Alcaraz started the second set as he did the first, breaking his opponent in the third game. Once again, Sinner could respond, but missed two of his break points.
Sinner “surprised” by Monte-Carlo Masters triumph
Alcaraz would hold to make it 3-1, but he would not win another set. Sinner needed three bites of the apple to break in the sixth game and a further two to break him in the eighth. Winning four straight sets left Sinner serving for the championship. At times this week, Alcaraz exuded a feeling of helplessness, a reluctant acceptance of fate, and it was in this spirit that he handed over his Monte-Carlo Masters crown and world No.1 spot.
A failed return from the Spaniard and Sinner was down on his haunches, soaking in the accolades of an Italian crowd, who over the course of the week have made the MCCC their home, and they saw their hero win his first big title on clay. “It means a lot to me,” said the new world No.1. “It wasn’t easy, but surprised is maybe the right word. It would be strange to say that I am not surprised, but pleasantly so. I think I will need a bit more time to realise what has happened.” Alcaraz said that he wasn’t surprised. In fact, the only person surprised by Sinner’s imperious form is Sinner. Tennis’ dominant duopoly will now have Roland Garros in their sights.
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Photo credit: Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life