Jannik Sinner began his bid to retain the ATP Finals title with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime in their round-robin clash at a packed Inalpi Arena on Monday. The win puts the Italian second seed atop the Bjorn Borg Group and extends his indoor hardcourt winning streak to 27 matches. The victory was crucial for Sinner, who is in a battle with Carlos Alcaraz to end the year as World No. 1, an achievement he must secure by defending his title in Turin.
The match, which was the fourth meeting between the pair since August, saw Sinner start with intent, giving up just three points on serve in the opening set and sharp shotmaking. Auger-Aliassime hung in, smashing eight aces to Sinner’s one during the first set and saving four break points to keep the set close.
However, Sinner broke through when it mattered most, clinching the set 7-5. Sinner acknowledged the challenge, stating, “It was a very tough match until 6-5. I had some chances to break... I’m happy to overcome a very tough test today.”
The tide turned for good in the second set as Sinner stormed into a 3-0 lead. Auger-Aliassime, who had been struggling with a physical issue late in the first set, took a medical timeout for a problem in his left calf. Though the Canadian managed to save a couple of break points, the injury clearly hampered his movement. Sinner did not let up, earning another break to leave him serving for the match, which he sealed with an ace.
Sinner was dominant on serve, finishing the match having won 89% of points behind his first serve and not facing a single break point against the Canadian. The defending champion continued his streak of not dropping a set at the ATP Finals since his 2023 final defeat to Novak Djokovic. He further expressed hope for his opponent’s quick recovery: “I hope it’s nothing too serious. I wish him obviously a very speedy recovery, and hopefully he is back to 100 per cent physically.”