Imago
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner
Imago
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner
The rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner is set to resume in the Monte Carlo Masters final. This comes after the Spaniard made light work of Valentin Vacherot and defeated him 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals. On the other side, the World No. 2 had booked his place in the penultimate match after handing a comprehensive 6-1, 6-4 loss to Alexander Zverev. This will be the two’s eighth consecutive meeting in the final and their ninth final meeting overall. With the World No. 1 ranking on the line, Alcaraz feels that the upcoming tie against Sinner is going to be “special”.
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“I think it’s the dream spot for everyone I would say. I’m fighting for a second Monte-Carlo title, he’s fighting for his first one. It’s going to be a really special one. The No. 1 is on the line, which will make tomorrow even more special,” he said during his on-court interview after the match.
Alcaraz also heaped praise on Vacherot, who gave his all in his home event and went on to make the semis. Though he did end up coming short at the end of the day, the World No. 1 admitted that he made life difficult for him on the court.
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“For me, I’m just happy to win this really difficult match against Valentin. He’s playing great tennis with a lot of confidence right now, playing in his hometown. It was really tough to get the win, but I’m really excited about my first meeting with Jannik in 2026,” he concluded.
It was a valiant effort from Vacherot, who took on Alcaraz for the first time on Tour. Though the latter proved to be dominant in the first set and wrapped it up comfortably, the Monegasque hit back early in the second set.
Though Alcaraz broke early in the second set and looked to be in control once again, Vacherot broke back right away to level the set 2-2. However, the Spaniard went on to break for the third time in the match and held on to his serve to clinch the match in straight-sets.
First Sincaraz of 2026 😍
World No.1 + Monte-Carlo Title on the line 🥵@carlosalcaraz is looking forward to a “special” showpiece match on Sunday #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/JP2pEmx3jH— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 11, 2026
Coming back, Alcaraz and Sinner are set to lock horns for the first time this season. Their last meeting had come in the penultimate match of the 2025 ATP Finals where the Italian had reigned supreme 7-6, 7-5. However, Alcaraz has had an edge over his rival over the years and has gained the upper hand in the H2H record.
The 22-year-old currently boasts a 10-6 win-loss record over his rival. Additionally, he also leads the H2H record when it comes to the finals. Alcaraz has managed to come out on top in five of the eight finals that they have played so far.
The result of the final in Monte Carlo will have major implications on the rankings. The equation is simple: Alcaraz needs to claim the title in order to maintain his place at the top, otherwise he will be surpassed by Sinner.
Despite being behind in the H2H, Sinner may very well have the momentum heading into the final as he had come into the tournament after triumphing at the ‘Sunshine Double’. The 24-year-old appeared to be quite confident after defeating Zverev in the semis and remarked that he has “nothing to lose” in the Monte Carlo final.
Jannik Sinner fires warning ahead of the final against Carlos Alcaraz
“I’m looking forward to it. These are matches why I practice, why I wake up. And it’s great to have at least one match before Roland Garros against him. That’s for sure a big test for me. But look, in the same time, I have nothing to lose,” Sinner said in an on-court interview after the semifinals.
Sinner was very satisfied with his performance against Zverev and highlighted how much it means for him to make it to his first-ever final of the Monte Carlo Masters.
“Coming here and making the final means a lot to me. I, of course, try to push as much as I can tomorrow in the last day, but now it’s most important to rest. It was a good performance from my side. Yeah, and tomorrow it’s going to be a tough one,” he added.
Notably, this was the third time that Sinner had defeated Zverev this year, and coincidentally, all of these wins have come in the semifinals. He has extended his Masters 1000 winning streak to 21 matches and has only lost one set in his past 26 matches in such tournaments.
Will Alcaraz record his sixth triumph over his rival in finals, or will Sinner not only clinch his maiden Monte Carlo title but also go on to take over on the rankings?
