Jannik Sinner is set to begin his quest to retain his ATP Finals title on Sunday, aiming to conclude a challenging year that could culminate in another face-off with his rival, Carlos Alcaraz. Currently
ranked world number one, Sinner has secured two Grand Slam victories this year, including a notable win against Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, following his triumph in Turin last year.
Both Sinner and Alcaraz are highly likely to qualify from their respective Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors groups, setting the stage for a potential showdown between the top two players in either the semi-finals or the final of the eight-man tournament.
“If I manage to do it, great. If not, I’ve still had an incredible season, with fewer tournaments but many matches played and victories achieved,” Sinner remarked on Friday.
“The first match is crucial because typically, you don’t compete against one of the top eight players in the world, making it a unique challenge for everyone.”
Sinner’s 2025 season has been marred by a three-month ban due to accidental contamination with banned clostebol, although the World Anti-Doping Agency acknowledged the contamination was accidental.
His choice not to participate in Italy’s Davis Cup title defence in Bologna has drawn significant criticism from a segment of the country’s media, who have often questioned his true allegiance to Italy, given his roots in the German-speaking region of South Tyrol and residency in Monaco.
In a recent interview with Sky in Italy, Sinner, aged 24, affirmed his pride in being Italian. Despite the controversies, he remains a beloved figure among the Italian public, who will support him fervently in Turin, where he won last year without losing a match, while Alcaraz exited in the group stage.
Sinner enters the Finals as the world number one, but his top ranking is at risk even if he wins the tournament, as Alcaraz could claim the year-end lead by improving on his performance from last year’s event. Alcaraz, who trained with Sinner on Friday, seeks his first Finals title and aims to add to his two Grand Slam victories this year, including the memorable Roland Garros final against Sinner.
Despite being the best players globally, there is minimal tension between Sinner and Alcaraz. “People might be surprised because they think our rivalry means we must hate each other. But that’s not true,” Alcaraz said on Friday. “On the court, we compete to win. Off the court, we are just ourselves. It’s a healthy rivalry.”
The Finals occur amid ongoing disputes between the top men and women players and the Grand Slam organisers over revenue sharing, player welfare, and consultation. This year, ATP and WTA tour leaders have joined forces to request a higher percentage of tournament revenue and contributions to welfare programmes like pensions.
On Thursday, women’s number one Aryna Sabalenka expressed frustration over the Grand Slam organisers’ reluctance to engage with the players after talks stalled post-US Open in September. On Friday, the male players were reserved about discussing the issue, despite Sinner and seventh seed Alex de Minaur representing players at an initial meeting with the Slams in Paris during Roland Garros in May.
