The first Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner clash of the year took place in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters, with Sinner lifting his first big title on the clay as he sealed a 7-6(5) 6-4 victory over his biggest rival. It took until mid-April for the world Nos. 1 and 2 to face off in 2026, but when they got underway, it wasn't the highest quality match, as the windy conditions in Monaco wreaked havoc.

The 17th 'Sincaraz' meeting still attracted plenty of attention, with retired three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray tuning in and even offering his commentary during the final. During the neck-and-neck first set, the former world No. 1 explained exactly what both men had to do if they wanted to win the tricky match.

"Both guys struggling playing with the wind so far....you need to play with more patience and much higher margin for error when it's like this.. the one who recognises this and adjusts quickest will win.." Murray tweeted, shortly before Alcaraz and Sinner headed into a first-set tiebreak.

It seemed to be easier said than done. Sinner handled the wind better in the breaker and had a set point on his serve, but dumped the ball into the net. He still came out on top, however, as Alcaraz double faulted to give the set away.

The Spaniard responded early in set two. He was unable to capitalise on two break points in the first game, but broke Sinner at the next opportunity with a stunning passing shot. Much like Murray said, he was rewarded for his patience after being run around during the 12-shot rally.

But it didn't last. Much like the first set, Alcaraz eventually lost his early break lead as Sinner pounced to level the score. The Spaniard tried to finish the point quickly with a dropshot, but it sailed outside of the tramlines, and put Sinner back in it at 3-3.

Then, with Alcaraz leading 40-15 in his next service game, the errors returned, and he suddenly found himself at deuce. Sinner was the one dictating, and although he blew his first break point, he stayed composed and converted his second, allowing him to serve for the title - and the No. 1 ranking. And he got it done, reeling off the last five games to lift his biggest career title on the clay.

Alcaraz had not lost a match on clay in almost a year, after finishing runner-up at the Barcelona Open. But he looked exasperated and hit 45 unforced errors during the two-hour and 15-minute contest. Sinner, meanwhile, handled the tough conditions better.

And the newly-crowned champion later explained: "It was a very strange match, because it was very windy. The conditions were not warm, which, you know, the ball is less bouncy that [makes it] a little bit easier to play tennis in general.

"But I tried. I think I was serving well in the important moments in the first set. In the tiebreak, I was very, very accurate. And in the second set was up and down a little bit from both [of us]. We both were slightly tired, because, you know, at the end of the tournament it's normal that you feel this way. A lot of tension for both of us.

"But it was a good match, I feel like, from him and also from my side. Small things where he is gonna improve, for sure, for the next match against me, and I have to be ready for that. But now I also want to enjoy this moment."

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