Carlos Alcaraz makes history with Italian Open title, extends Nadal’s clay-court legacy with win over Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz is the new champion of the 2025 Italian Open, defeating world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in straight sets to claim the title and make history. The victory marked not only a triumphant return to competition for Alcaraz but also a symbolic passing of the torch on clay, continuing the legacy of Rafael Nadal.

With this statement win, Alcaraz solidified his place among the sport’s elite. He didn’t just talk about being the best, he proved it on the court, showcasing his prime form and relentless drive to etch his name into tennis history. Taking down the top-ranked player in the world on one of the sport’s most iconic clay courts is a defining moment in his young career.

His dominant two-set performance in the final is more than just another title, it represents a generational shift. Twenty years after Nadal’s first triumph at the Italian Open, Alcaraz now steps into the spotlight, raising the bar for Spanish tennis on clay.

This marks Alcaraz’s first career title in Rome, echoing the early success of Nadal during his professional rise. More importantly, it could signal the dawn of a new era in Spanish tennis, with Alcaraz carving his own path while honoring the legacy of one of the game’s all-time greats.

Alcaraz snaps Sinner’s streak

Carlos Alcaraz didn’t just win the Italian Open, he shattered some of Sinner’s most impressive records along the way. The Spaniard delivered one of the most dominant performances of his career, leaving the world No. 1 with no answers in a straight-sets defeat.

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With the win, Alcaraz became the first player to beat Sinner in straight sets since Novak Djokovic at the 2023 ATP Finals. He also ended the Italian’s remarkable streak of 94 consecutive matches without a straight-sets loss. On clay, it was the first time Sinner had been beaten in straight sets since Stefanos Tsitsipas did it in 2022.

These milestones underscore the significance of Alcaraz’s performance. The 21-year-old isn’t just chasing titles, he’s chasing history, with Roland Garros looming.

Alcaraz reaches career milestones with Italian Open title

The Rome title added another chapter to Alcaraz’s already historic rise. He now ties Sinner for the most ATP titles (19) among players born in the 2000s. It also marked his seventh ATP Masters 1000 trophy, with his only loss in a final coming in Cincinnati 2023. That total ties him with Michael Chang and Alexander Zverev for the eighth-most Masters titles all-time.

Alcaraz also continues to excel on clay. He became the first player since Rafael Nadal to win multiple clay-court Masters in a single season. Additionally, he joined an exclusive group, just the fifth man in history, to win titles in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome. Since May 2024, he holds an impressive 27–2 record on the surface.