TURIN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Winner Jannik Sinner of Italy lifts his trophy following the Men’s Singles Final against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain on day eight of the Nitto ATP Finals 2025 at Inalpi Arena on November 16, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
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The quality level between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz was in a different postcode from the rest of the field at the ATP Finals. Ultimately, it was home favorite Sinner who retained his title on Sunday, edging the match 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 to complete only his second victory over Alcaraz in the last nine attempts. Alcaraz ends the year as world No. 1. He knows Sinner is in the slipstream as the Italian collected a cool $5 million on his last checkered flag of the season.
The ATP Finals was a magical mystery tour for most of the eight players up until the semifinals. The high-definition play of the two best players in the world has a breathtaking bandwidth. Sinner has now won 31 indoor hard court encounters in a row and 15 matches on the spin. He’s sprinted across the finishing tape. Falling over with relief at the end of the two hours and 15 minutes was the only time he backed off.
The first set was a rollercoaster 79 minutes, stopped by an 11-minute pause for another medical incident in the crowd and a medical timeout for the Spaniard’s right thigh. Alcaraz’s shotmaking had the edge, but Sinner came good in the tiebreak. There was really nothing in it. Only these two can cope with the force and angle from the other. Dips in the match are someone else’s ceiling. Forehands and backhands that simply shouldn’t be possible were made.
The Australian and Wimbledon champion played an unusually casual opening game in the second set, which led to a first loss of serve in the tournament. Alcaraz was more aggressive, playing shorter points with perhaps half a mind on his hamstring. It worked, but his timing was compromised a little. He couldn’t see it out and was ultimately broken back.
An epic seventh game saw the crowd decibels rise again with a stunning 24-shot rally as the Italian showed signs of stress too. Alcaraz kept unleashing but there were more misfires and the last one gave Sinner the prize.
Alcaraz knew what was coming at the Inalpi Arena which had created a partizan support earlier in the week during Lorenzo Musetti’s comeback against Alex de Minaur. To beat Sinner was perfectly possible given his recent record. To do so in Italy with a 13,000 audience that only had a sprinkling of Spanish flavor was a step too far. At the presentation ceremony, they acclaimed the runner-up like one of their own.
This was the last time both would lock horns in 2025. Alcaraz can go away satisfied that he has come away with two majors, beating his closest rival in an epic French Open five-setter and an even more impressive Flushing Meadows finale. Sinner has ended the year with the other two slams, including a comprehensive win over the No. 1 at Wimbledon. The 23-year-old is close to working out the Alcaraz puzzle, even though that can be an illusion sometimes, such is the ever-changing wizardry of the Spaniard.
TURIN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Jannik Sinner of Italy hugs Carlos Alcaraz of Spain following the Men’s Singles Final on day eight of the Nitto ATP Finals 2025 at Inalpi Arena on November 16, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
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The rest of the men’s tennis field has been lapped by Alcaraz and Sinner. The two of them are redefining what’s possible on a tennis court, while ‘the others’ are desperately hoping that a rogue result makes one of them disappear. It does happen occasionally, shining a light on a new tennis story like Valentin Valerot’s marvelous win in Shanghai. When Alcaraz won in Japan, Sinner claimed the China Open. Maybe the ATP Tour can separate them with more dual events.
The only good thing for impatient tennis fans is that the sport never really goes into hibernation. The Davis Cup will be poorer for Sinner’s absence in Bologna, an event that he has pulled out of to be ready for the new chapter of the ongoing slam quest. Alcaraz will return to Italy to try and finish on a high. There might be a bit more room for Spanish fans this time.
Tennis doesn’t really have an off switch. It’s not the best recipe for the players, but the spectators will continue to roll up for the Melbourne merry-go-round. Sinner versus Alcaraz is going to be the final match-up unless someone can knock them off their post-Christmas perch.