Carlos Alcaraz had little trouble dismantling Jannik Sinner in the Italian Open final, sealing a 7-6(5) 6-1 victory to snap the world number one’s 26-match winning streak and break the hearts of the home crowd on Sunday.

A couple of weeks in Rome that started with the return of the prodigal son and then took in the election of a new Pope will have a fittingly blockbuster ending: the world’s two best male tennis players facing off for the Italian Open title.

Jannik Sinner lost the home Rome Masters final to Carlos Alcaraz, with the Spaniard earning a 7-6, 6-1 triumph in an hour and 43 minutes. The Italian suffered a rare loss and finished as the runner-up in front of the home fans.