Sinner downed Alcaraz 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to capture his third ATP 1000 title of the year after completing the “Sunshine Double” last month with victories in Indian Wells and Miami.
The 24-year-old Sinner joins Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as only the third player to win four successive ATP 1000 titles. He also triumphed in Paris at the end of last season.
“We came here trying to get as many matches as possible, getting good feedback before other big tournaments coming up. Today was a high level from both of us,” Sinner said.
“Getting back to No.1 means a lot for me… I am very happy to win a big title on this surface, I haven’t done it before and it means a lot to me.”
It was the first meeting between Sinner and Alcaraz since the Italian prevailed at the ATP Finals in November.
He has won his last 17 matches and becomes the first man since Djokovic in 2015 to win the first three ATP 1000 titles of the season.
Alcaraz had won his past 17 matches on clay, dating back to last season when he lifted titles in Rome and at Roland Garros.
He admitted Sinner performed better when it mattered most on Sunday.
“I would say that the important moments, the important points, I didn’t play well. I think I had so much opportunities in the match that I didn’t take,” said Alcaraz. (AFP)
