Alcaraz: ‘He Played Unbelievable When It Mattered’

When Carlos Alcaraz last faced Jannik Sinner on a clay court, he came up clutch when it mattered most.

The Spaniard saved three championship points to stay alive in the Roland Garros final and then played one of the boldest, most spectacular deciding-set tie-breaks to secure victory in one of the greatest matches of the Open Era.

But in Sunday’s Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters final, the defending champion said it was Sinner who delivered when it mattered most.

“I would say that the important moments, the important points, I didn’t play well,” Alcaraz said. “I think I had so many opportunities in the match that I didn’t take. So many games, points, so many 15-30, Love-30.

“I think the first tie-break I think I didn’t play well, and I think he just played unbelievable tennis when it mattered. I think that was the key today.”

In the first-set tie-break, Sinner made all six first serves while Alcaraz made just two of six and double faulted on set point.

The 7-6(5), 6-3 defeat saw Alcaraz surrender his World No. 1 PIF ATP Ranking to Sinner, who will begin his 67th week in top spot on Monday. Alcaraz has spent 66 weeks at No. 1 during his young career.

These two 🥹🤝@carlosalcaraz @janniksin #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/o1FKxFzo7L

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 12, 2026

Alcaraz said that if his body co-operates, he plans to play a full schedule leading into Roland Garros: Barcelona, Madrid and Rome, where last year he defeated Sinner in the final.

“The main goal is to play the full clay season calendar,” Alcaraz said. “Let’s see how it’s gonna be. Unfortunately I couldn’t because I was injured. So we’re touching wood and praying that nothing’s going to happen to my body.

“If I don’t have any problems, I will play everything on clay. Let’s see how it’s gonna be the next weeks. I don’t know how it’s gonna be, the matches, if I’m gonna win matches, if I’m gonna lose in the first rounds, if the matches are going to be super demanding physically or not, so I don’t know how it’s gonna be, but what I can tell right now is I will hear my body much better this year than last year, for sure.”

Alcaraz paid tribute to Sinner for his win, who he now leads 10-7 in career meetings and 3-2 on clay.

“He just played great tennis, better level of tennis and it matters with these windy conditions.

“I’m not surprised at all by Jannik’s level on clay, and I think he’s been improving a lot year by year. I think he’s reaching a level on clay that is going to be really dangerous for everybody.

“He has the level on clay to win every tournament he plays, as he does on every surface, of course, but he understands the game on clay pretty well.”