PREVIEW | ATP 2025 Rome Open - Final: A clash for the ages. Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz
ATPSunday, 18 May 2025 at 17:13
The final we were all waiting for has finally arrived. The 2025 Rome Open will crown its champion with a blockbuster clash between the two best players on the planet: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. It will be their first meeting in an ATP Masters 1000 final and the eleventh chapter in their growing rivalry.
Italian fans couldn't ask for more. This Sunday, they'll have the chance to see their hometown hero, Jannik Sinner, face of against his 2024 kryptonite: world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz. A final packed with storylines, and a rivalry that's fast becoming the defining duel of the post-Big Three era.
The world No. 1 enters the match riding a jaw-dropping 26-match winning streak. But it's also true that he's stepping onto the court against the last man to beat him.
The most recent encounter between Alcaraz and Sinner dates back to the 2024 China Open, where the two titans clashed on the hard courts of Beijing for the title. Sinner arrived as the newly crowned US Open champion, having towered over the field both phisically and mentally, dropping just one set en rout to the title despite the storm of controversy surrounding a positive doping test that broke during the tournament.
Jannik Sinner lifting the US Open trophy after beating Taylor Fritz in the final.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, was seeking redemption after an early exit to his long-time nemesis Botic Van de Zandschulp, making Sinner the clear favorite in the Far East showdown.
What followed was everything fans could've hoped for and more: a nearly three-and-a-half hour thriller that was finally decided in a third-set tiebreak in favor of the Spaniard. A brutal reminder that these two are in a league of their own, and that he margins between them are razor-thin.
But don't forget, the hype around Sunday's Rome final doesn't rest solely on that battle in Beijing. At the 2024 Roland Garros, they delivered yet another instant classic, this time with Alcaraz rallying from two sets to one down make the final in Paris, where he eventually defeated Zverev for the trophy.
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In fact, Alcaraz´s streak over Sinner didn't even start there. You have to go back to Indian Wells, where the Spaniard once again came from behind to win after dropping the first set, booking his place in the final of the so-called "Fifth Slam".
So, in what has been Sinner's breakout year, there's only been one player who's kept a perfect record against him -and that's the very man awaiting him at the Foro Italico.
That's why, despite his calm demeanor and his statements downplaying the pressure, this final means a lot to Sinner. Especially considering it marks his return to competition after a 90-day suspension.
How are Sinner and Alcaraz-shaping up for the Big Match?
The paths of both stars to the 2025 Rome Open final share several similarities.
Despite being sidelined for three months, Sinner has shown little to no rust. On the contrary, he looks physically stronger, as if he used his time away from the tour to bulk up in the gym.
He opened with a straightforward 6-3, 6-4 win over Mariano Navone, followed by another comfortable victory over Jesper De Jong. His first real test on clay came against another Argentine, Francisco Cerundolo, but Sinner passed it with flying -winning 7-6, 6-3 to book his spot in the quarterfinals of his home tournament.
That's where many believed he would finally be pushed to the limit, facing a red-hot Casper Ruud who had just won Madrid and looked in peak form on clay. But Sinner shut down that narrative quickly, demolishing in the Norwegian 6-0, 6-1 in a jaw-dropping performance that lasted barely over an hour.
The semifinals turned out to be his toughest hurdle. Sinner was rocked in the first set by an inspired Tommy Paul, who blew past him 6-1. But the world No. 1's mental toughness kicked in, and he rallied in dominant fashion, taking the next two sets 6-0, 6-3 to punch his ticket to the final.
Alcaraz, on the other hand, came into the tournament well-rested, having skipped the Madrid Open due to an injury he sustained in the Barcelona final. He had already claimed the Monte Carlo title earlier in the clay swing, making it clear why he's considered the best on this surface.
Carlos Alcaraz holding Beinjing's trophy after a brutal match against Sinner.
Along the way, he faced two seasoned Serbian clay-courters, Dejan Lajovic and Laslo Djere -both dispatched in straight sets. His real test came in the round of 16 against Karen Khachanov. The Russian made him work hard, but Alcaraz emerged victorious in a tight 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 battle.
In the quarterfinals, he faced in-form Birt Jack Draper, another rising star on this European swing. Alcaraz avenged his Indian Wells semifinal loss with a 6-4, 6-4 win to reach the semis, where he ended Italian hopes for an all-Azzurri final by beating Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6.
Both players have dropped just one set all tournament. With a near-identical résumés in terms of ATP titles, Grand Slams, head-to-head battles, and the level of tennis they've shown in Rome, expectations are sky-high. This final has all the ingredents to become a new instant classic.
Match Info:
Jannik Sinner - Carlos Alcaraz
Start time (local): Sun, 18 May, 5:00 PM
Start time (your time): Sun, 18 May, 11:00 PM
Court: Campo Centrale
Tournament: Internazionali BNL d'Italia
Round: Final
Head-to-Head
| Sinner | Alcaraz | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 5 | 7 |
| Win Streak | 1 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 1 | 3 |
| Race Ranking | 4 | 1 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 1 | 2 (+1) |
| Live Race Ranking | 2 (+2) | 1 |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 23 (16 Aug 2001) | 22 (5 May 2003) |
| Birthplace | Innichen, South Tyrol, Italy | El Palmar, Murcia, Spain |
| Residence | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Villena, Spain |
| Height | 6'3" (191cm) | 6'0" (183cm) |
| Weight | 150lbs (68kg) | 163lbs (74kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2018 | 2018 |
| Coach | Simone Vagnozzi, Darren Cahill | Juan Carlos Ferrero (2019–), Samuel López (2024–) |
| YTD W/L | 12-0 (100%) | 28-5 (85%) |
| YTD Titles | 1 | 2 |
| Career Titles | 19 | 18 |
| Prize Money | US $39,389,088 - 9th all-time in earnings | US $40,555,898 - 8th all-time in earnings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
J Sinner d C Alcaraz Riyadh Exhibition - Final6-7 | 6-3 | 6-3 19 Oct 2024 |
||
|
C Alcaraz d J Sinner ATP Beijing - Final6-7 | 6-4 | 7-6 2 Oct 2024 |
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|
C Alcaraz d J Sinner French Open - Semifinal2-6 | 6-3 | 3-6 | 6-4 | 6-3 7 Jun 2024 |
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C Alcaraz d J Sinner ATP Indian Wells - Semifinal1-6 | 6-3 | 6-2 16 Mar 2024 |
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J Sinner d C Alcaraz ATP Beijing - Semifinal7-6 | 6-1 3 Oct 2023 |
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J Sinner d C Alcaraz ATP Miami - Semifinal6-7 | 6-4 | 6-2 31 Mar 2023 |
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C Alcaraz d J Sinner ATP Indian Wells - Semifinal7-6 | 6-3 18 Mar 2023 |
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C Alcaraz d J Sinner US Open - Quarterfinal6-3 | 6-7 | 6-7 | 7-5 | 6-3 8 Sep 2022 |
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J Sinner d C Alcaraz ATP Umag - Final6-7 | 6-1 | 6-1 31 Jul 2022 |
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J Sinner d C Alcaraz Wimbledon - Round of 166-1 | 6-4 | 6-7 | 6-3 3 Jul 2022 |
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C Alcaraz d J Sinner ATP Paris - Round of 327-6 | 7-5 3 Nov 2021 |
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C Alcaraz d J Sinner ATP Challenger Villena - Round of 646-2 | 3-6 | 6-3 2 Apr 2019 |
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