Sinner Regains Top Spot After Monte Carlo Victory Over Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner has reclaimed the world's number one spot after defeating Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets at the Monte-Carlo Masters final. Sinner navigated the windy conditions in Monaco more effectively than his opponent, securing a 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 win to claim the top ranking from Alcaraz for the first time since November 2025. Although the match did not reach the exceptional heights of their previous encounters, it was filled with turns of events as Sinner overcame a deficit in the second set. This victory marks Sinner's first win over Alcaraz on clay since 2022 and extends his unbeaten streak to 22 matches at Masters tournaments. Sinner expressed his excitement, stating, "The result is amazing. Returning to No 1 means a lot to me," and also acknowledged that the ranking is secondary to his happiness in winning a significant trophy on this surface. Alcaraz praised Sinner, saying, "It's impressive what you are achieving right now. To win the Sunshine Double and Monte-Carlo, it's incredible. Congratulations for the work you're doing with your team." The 17th professional meeting between the two tennis superstars will not be remembered as a classic due to the challenging conditions. Alcaraz initially broke Sinner but was unable to sustain his lead, with Sinner eventually breaking back to level the score. The first set remained closely contested, with neither player able to gain a decisive advantage until the tie-break, where Sinner capitalized on Alcaraz's double fault to take the set. In the second set, Alcaraz briefly took the lead after breaking Sinner but struggled to maintain his serve, allowing Sinner to capitalize on his errors and secure a 3-3 tie. Sinner then won the next three games, ultimately sealing his first Monte-Carlo Masters title. The two players will now decide whether to compete again in Barcelona, where Britain's Jack Draper will also participate, before the ATP 1000 events in Madrid and Rome lead up to the French Open in May. Meanwhile, Mirra Andreeva won the Linz Open by defeating Anastasia Potapova 1-6 6-4 6-3, claiming her second WTA title and fourth career title after rallying from a set down. Andreeva praised Potapova, stating, "I was struggling a lot on how to find a solution to play against you today. You're an amazing fighter and an even better person." Potapova, who recently switched allegiance to Austria, expressed gratitude for the crowd's support, saying, "All the support I was getting this week from the crowd, I never had it in my life. I am really thankful." The ATP and WTA Tours can be watched live on Sky Sports or streamed with NOW and the Sky Sports app, offering Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sports at no extra cost.