Jannik Sinner capped off a turbulent yet triumphant season with a commanding performance in Turin on Sunday, overcoming Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 to successfully defend his ATP Finals crown.
The home
favourite delivered under pressure once again, thrilling the packed Pala Alpitour as he added another major milestone to a year already highlighted by titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
The victory was especially meaningful for the Italian star, who earlier in the season endured a three-month suspension following accidental contamination with clostebol. Although the World Anti-Doping Agency accepted his explanation and cleared him of deliberate wrongdoing, the disruption could have derailed his campaign.
Instead, Sinner returned to the tour with renewed determination, piecing together one of the most impressive indoor hard-court streaks in recent memory.
His win over Alcaraz extended his unbeaten run on indoor hard courts to 31 matches, stretching back to the 2023 ATP Finals championship match-his last defeat under a roof, when he fell to Novak Djokovic. Sinner is closing in on Djokovic's 35-match streak from 2012-2015, though John McEnroe's 47 consecutive victories still stand as the all-time Open-era record.
Throughout the week in Turin, Sinner remained unmoved by pressure, refusing to concede a single set-continuing a trend that began immediately after his defeat to Djokovic in the 2022 final.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, entered the match following an exceptional season of his own, collecting eight titles and pushing his Grand Slam count to six. The Spaniard, like Sinner, had cruised to the championship match, but their showdown unfolded with intense rallies and near-flawless serving from both ends. The opening set reached a tense tie-break, where Sinner produced a perfectly measured lob and followed up with a strong serve to seal the opener.
The momentum briefly shifted when Sinner opened the second set with successive double-faults, gifting Alcaraz an early break. But the Italian clawed back in the sixth game, lifting the arena into a roar. When Alcaraz's final backhand drifted wide, Sinner dropped to the court in emotion before climbing into the stands to celebrate with his family.
