Alcaraz bags Rome title, set sights on French Open

Carlos Alcaraz won the Italian Open on Sunday after beating Jannik Sinner in straight sets but expects his rival to be “really dangerous” at Roland Garros as he steps up his return from a three-month doping ban.

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Alcaraz fended off two set points late in the first set and then seized control in the tie-break before pulling away for a 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 win, his fourth in a row over world No.1 Sinner.

The Spaniard snapped Sinner’s 26-match winning run to claim his first Rome crown and seventh Masters 1000 title, denying Italy their first male champion at the tournament since Adriano Panatta in 1976. Alcaraz was also the last player to beat Sinner, in last year’s China Open final.

Sunday's showdown could well be a prelude to the French Open final, with Sinner and Alcaraz set to be kept apart in the draw as the latter returned to second in the rankings yesterday.

Alcaraz, who beat Sinner in a five-set semi-final en route to the Roland Garros trophy 12 months ago, has few doubts the Italian will again be a major contender in the French capital.

“The level he has played in this tournament is insane after three months without playing, without any tournament,” said Alcaraz.

“I mean, what he has done, it’s amazing. I mean, it’s something that I have to have respect on that.