Match Reaction
Alcaraz on Sinner defeat: ‘I didn’t play well in the important moments’
Spaniard suffered defeat to Italian in Monte-Carlo final
April 12, 2026
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz was chasing his ninth ATP Masters 1000 crown on Sunday in Monte-Carlo.
By Sam Jacot
Carlos Alcaraz has so often been the man for the big occasion in his historic early career. The Spaniard completed the Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open and is an eight-time ATP Masters 1000 champion.
However, the 22-year-old was unable to find his best level when it mattered most against Jannik Sinner on Sunday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, where the Italian prevailed 7-6(5), 6-3.
“I would say that the important moments, the important points, I didn’t play well,” Alcaraz reflected in his post-match conditions. “I think I had so many opportunities in the match that I didn’t take it. So many games, points, so many 15/30, Love/30. I think the first tie-break, I didn’t play well and I think he just played unbelievable tennis when it mattered. I think that was the key today.”
In windy conditions on Court Rainier III, Alcaraz led by a break in both sets but was unable to capitalise. The Spaniard hit a costly double fault set point down in the first-set tie-break and then surrendered a 3-1 lead in the second set, ending with 45 unforced errors.
“I think today was really difficult conditions, because I just consider myself that I play great tennis when there is a lot of wind. Today’s wind was a little bit tricky because it wasn’t in just one direction,” Alcaraz said. “It was twirling around. One point you play a point with the wind helping and the next point it was totally opposite. So it was tricky to understand where the wind goes.”
Sinner has improved to 7-10 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series and is now 2-3 against the Spaniard on clay. Alcaraz beat Sinner in finals at Roland Garros and Rome last year, saving three championship points in Paris, so he was not surprised by his opponent’s level in the Principality.
“We have seen Jannik’s level on clay and I think he’s been improving a lot year by year,” Alcaraz said of Sinner, who will climb above the Spaniard and return to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday. “I think he’s reaching a level on clay that is going to be really dangerous for everybody. I’m not surprised at all, because we could see last year in Roland Garros the level he played.”
Alcaraz leaves Monte-Carlo holding a 21-3 record on the year, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. The Spaniard will compete at the ATP 500 event in Barcelona next week.
