SportsApril 13, 2026

Sinner Sweeps Past Alcaraz to Become Just Second Player in Open Era to Win Sunshine Double and Monte Carlo in Same Season

Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(5), 6-3 to become just the second player in Open Era to win Sunshine Double and Monte Carlo in same season, reclaiming world No. 1.

Marcus Cole/3 min/US

Sports Analyst

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Sinner Sweeps Past Alcaraz to Become Just Second Player in Open Era to Win Sunshine Double and Monte Carlo in Same Season

**TL;DR:** Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(5), 6-3 in the Monte Carlo final to become just the second player in the Open Era to win the Sunshine Double and Monte Carlo in the same season, reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking at age 24.

**Context:** The Italian's victory marks his first Masters 1000 title on clay and completes an unprecedented hard-court-to-clay transition. Sinner entered the tournament trailing Alcaraz in the rankings by 580 points. He leaves with the top spot secured and his eighth Masters 1000 crown overall.

**Key Facts:** Sinner is the second player in the Open Era to achieve the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells and Miami) and Monte Carlo in the same season. Novak Djokovic was the first to accomplish the feat in 2015. The 24-year-old has now won four consecutive Masters 1000 titles, following triumphs in Paris, Indian Wells and Miami. He defeated Alcaraz in straight sets, prevailing in a tight tiebreak before dominating the second set.

"The result is amazing. Getting back to number one means a lot to me," Sinner said in an on-court interview. "At the same time, as I always say, the ranking is secondary. I'm very happy to win at least one big trophy on this surface."

Alcaraz acknowledged Sinner's achievement after the match. "It's impressive what you are achieving right now. Just one man in the Open Era won the Sunshine Double and then Monte Carlo, and you are the second one to achieve it. It's something incredible."

**What It Means:** Sinner has now proven he can win on multiple surfaces against the sport's best. His transition from hard-court dominance to clay-court success signals he enters the French Open as a legitimate contender. The Italian holds a 29-2 record in 2025 and has defeated Alcaraz in three of their last four meetings. With the top ranking secured and his first major clay title in hand, Sinner builds momentum for the season's second Grand Slam.

Watch next: How Sinner performs at the French Open in late May will determine whether this season ranks among the all-time great surface transitions in tennis history.

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