The Foro Italico is set for a blockbuster showdown. On Sunday, May 19th, two of the most electrifying young talents in tennis will battle for the 2025 Internazionali BNL d’Italia title. It’s a final many fans had hoped for and it promises to deliver.
Alcaraz road
Carlos Alcaraz has marched through the draw with calm authority. The Spaniard, after a withdraw in Madrid, has shown steady improvement match after match. Starting with a straightforward win over Lajovic, he gradually raised his level to beat Djere in a tight two-set contest and neutralized Karen Khachanov with brilliant court coverage and attacking precision. In the quarterfinals, Jack Draper proved a sterner test, but Alcaraz’s dominance on serve made the difference, saving 6/8 break points. Against Lorenzo Musetti in the semifinals, he was in control for most of the match, closing it out 6-3, 7-6 (4) despite some resistance from the Italian late in the second set.
Sinner road
Jannik Sinner’s journey has been more complex, but just as impressive. After an good start against Navone and De Jong, the Italian beat Cerundolo. His quarterfinal against Casper Ruud was clinical: Sinner struck 22 winners and made just 10 unforced errors to close the match in just an hour. Then came a shaky start in the semifinals against Tommy Paul, where he lost the first set 6-1 in just 27 minutes. But what followed was a stunning turnaround: a 6-0, 6-3 response, where he lost only 12 points on serve in the last two sets.
Head-to-head: a budding rivalry at 4–4
Sunday’s final will be the ninth encounter between Alcaraz and Sinner, and the balance is perfect: four wins each. These two have already crafted one of the most exciting rivalries in modern tennis. Their most iconic clash remains the US Open 2022 quarterfinal, a five-set epic lasting over five hours and widely hailed as one of the greatest matches of that season. Since then, both players have alternated wins, Alcaraz took their most recent official match at Beijing 2024 with a (6) 6-7, 6-4 7-6 (3) scoreline. Their styles contrast and complement each other with Alcaraz’s explosive shot against Sinner’s mechanical precision, exceptional timing, and tactical discipline. On clay, Alcaraz is leading 2-1, beating the Italian in the French Open last summer and in a 2019 challenger in Alicante. All their previous meeting on clay finished to the maximum possible sets (3-2 for Alcaraz at Roland Garros, 1-2 for Sinner at U-Mag and 2-1 for Alcaraz at Alicante).
By the numbers: two elite profiles
Statistically, both players have been among the best in the tournament. Alcaraz has held serve in 90% of his service games this week and is winning 57% of baseline rallies lasting over 5 shots, a clear indicator of his dominance in longer exchanges. Sinner, on the other hand, has been the most effective returner in Rome, converting 47% of his break point chances and winning 43% of return games — the highest percentage in the field.
Their overall season record is also stellar. Sinner enters the final with a 32-2 win-loss tally in 2025, while Alcaraz stands at 28-5, with the added experience of playing more clay events this year. The match is likely to hinge on who can dictate play from the baseline — and who blinks first in the key moments.
Final details: what you need to know
The final will be played on Sunday, May 19th, on Stadio Centrale at the Foro Italico, with a scheduled start time of 5:00 PM local time (11:00 AM ET). The match will be broadcast on Tennis TV, Sky Sports, Eurosport and local networks worldwide. With over €960,000 on the line for the winner, and the ATP No. 1 ranking potentially within Sinner’s reach, this is a final that carries weight beyond the trophy.
Rome awaits its champion — and whether it’s Spain’s genius or Italy’s prodigy who prevails, the crowd is guaranteed a final to remember.