A Historic Final in the Making
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are set to face off for the first time in 2026 in the Monte Carlo Masters final this afternoon. This match is not only a battle for the title but also for the world No 1 ranking. Both players have been in exceptional form, making this encounter one of the most anticipated in men’s tennis.
Sinner has had an outstanding season, becoming the first man since Novak Djokovic to reach the first three Masters 1000 finals in a single season. He has already claimed the titles at Indian Wells and Miami, and he is on a 21-match winning streak at the Masters 1000 level. If he can extend this to 22 matches, he will overtake Alcaraz as the world No 1.
Alcaraz has also been in fine form this season, winning the Australian Open and the Qatar Open. He recently defeated Valentin Vacherot 6-4 6-4 in the semi-finals to secure his place in the final. Meanwhile, Sinner dominated third seed Alexander Zverev with a 6-1 6-4 victory without facing a single break point.
Key Details About the Match
The Monte Carlo Masters men’s final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner is scheduled to start at 2pm BST (UK time) on Sunday, 12 April. It will follow the men’s doubles final, which starts three hours earlier. There is a small chance the match could be delayed if the doubles final goes longer than expected.
Fans can watch the match live on Sky Sports, with coverage beginning on Sky Sports Tennis at 2pm BST. Sky Sport + will join the action from 2.30pm BST after the conclusion of the Birmingham City v Wrexham match in the Championship. Subscribers can access the content through Sky or use NOW with a day or month pass.
Head-to-Head Record
Alcaraz leads the head-to-head record against Sinner 10-6. However, Sinner secured a 7-6 7-5 victory in their most recent meeting at the ATP Finals in November. Last year, Alcaraz beat Sinner in both the US Open and French Open finals, but the Italian came out on top in four sets in the Wimbledon final.
Their first meeting was in 2021, when Alcaraz won 7-6 7-5 in the last 32 of the Paris Masters. Sinner got his revenge in their second meeting at Wimbledon the following summer.
What the Players Said
Alcaraz expressed his excitement about facing his rival in a final, especially after a tough win against Valentin Vacherot.
“I think it’s the dream spot for everyone I would say,” explained the Spaniard. “I’m fighting for a second Monte Carlo title, he’s fighting for his first one. The number one is on the line, which will make tomorrow more special.
“I’m just happy to win a really difficult match against Valentin. He’s playing great tennis with a lot of confidence right now, playing in his home town. It was really tough to get the win, but I’m really excited about my first meeting with Jannik in 2026.”
Sinner reflected on his victory over Zverev in the semi-finals, highlighting the significance of making it to the final.
“I’m very happy,” said Sinner. “We came here trying to give myself some feedback [on clay] and now finding myself in the final means a lot to me.
“When you are a break up straight away, it changes the dynamic of the match. I have nothing to lose. Coming here and making the final means a lot to me, so of course I will try to push as much as I can tomorrow on the last day.”
