Jannik Sinner put a definitive stamp on his 2025 season with a commanding performance at the ATP Tour Finals on Sunday.
The Italian, cheered on by home fans, overcame world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (4), 7-5 in the sixth meeting of the year between the two men who have dominated men’s tennis.
A Celebration for Home Fans
The final showdown of the so-called ‘Sincaraz’ rivalry had Sinner defending his title in front of an electric crowd at the Inalpi Arena.
Supporters had plenty to cheer about, from the opening point to the thrilling tiebreaker in the first set.
Fans even held up signs portraying Sinner as a saint, chanting his name in unison as he took control of the match.
Sinner described the moment after the match as “incredible,” noting the special feeling of winning in front of Italian supporters.
Love and Rumors Off the Court
Amid the celebrations, questions swirled about Sinner’s personal life after his girlfriend, model Laila Hasanovic, posted a cryptic photo of a ring on social media.
Sinner quickly put the rumors to rest, joking that he had no hand in it.
The couple, who went public earlier this year, has been seen together at multiple events, with Hasanovic cheering Sinner from the coach’s box throughout the tournament.
The Rivalry That Defined the Year
Sinner and Alcaraz have faced each other in three of this year’s Grand Slam finals, with Alcaraz edging out victories at the French Open and U.S. Open, while Sinner took Wimbledon.
They also met in the finals of the Italian Open and Cincinnati Open, with Alcaraz claiming both, the latter after Sinner retired due to illness.
Despite Alcaraz securing the year-end No. 1 ranking, Sinner’s win in Turin marked only his second triumph over the Spaniard this year, proving the rivalry is far from one-sided.
Highlights of the Match
The first set was tense, with Sinner saving a set point at 5-6 using a huge second serve.
He went on to dominate the tiebreaker with brilliant shot-making, including a perfect lob and overhead finish.
In the second set, Sinner broke Alcaraz at the crucial moment to seal the victory, prompting a dramatic fall to the court in relief.
“I’m extremely happy with how I handled the situation,” Sinner said afterward.
Alcaraz praised Sinner’s big serve and aggressive play, noting the Italian surprised him with a 185-190 kph second serve at a key moment.
Numbers Tell the Story
The match stats reflected a tightly contested battle.
Alcaraz led 28-25 in winners but also had more unforced errors.
Sinner hit eight aces against five double faults, showing the improvements he had been working on since the U.S. Open defeat.
Sinner’s win extended his incredible streak at the ATP Finals to 10 consecutive victories, a run stretching back to his 2023 final loss to Novak Djokovic.
He also remains unbeaten in sets during that streak and has now won 31 indoor hard-court matches in a row.
Doubles Glory Goes to Heliovaara and Patten
In doubles action, Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten captured the title with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, rounding out a thrilling conclusion to the year-end tournament.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Sinner and Alcaraz both expressed excitement about the battles to come next year.
“I hope you are going to be ready for next year because I will be ready to hopefully play more finals against you,” said Alcaraz during the trophy ceremony.
Sinner responded warmly, anticipating “great, great battles ahead of us,” signaling that the rivalry will continue to drive one of the most compelling storylines in men’s tennis.
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