The final installment of the "Sincaraz" rivalry for 2025 went to local favorite Jannik Sinner, who defeated top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(4), 7-5 to successfully defend the ATP Finals trophy in Turin on Sunday. The victory before his home Italian fans was a fitting conclusion to a season dominated by the World No. 1 and World No. 2, who claimed all four major titles between them.
The championship match, played in a raucous atmosphere, saw both players compete at an elite level. The pivotal moment came late in a tight 79-minute first set. Alcaraz reached a set point at 5-6 with an aggressive net foray, but Sinner answered with an ice-cold 117mph second serve into Alcaraz’s body to save it.
Sinner then controlled the ensuing tiebreaker, using two brilliant lobs to secure the set. The Italian later broke Alcaraz's serve to close out the match, collapsing onto the court in relief.
Sinner's win, his second over Alcaraz this year, after the Wimbledon final, was fueled by his consistent dominance on indoor hard courts. The 24-year-old extended his indoor winning streak to 31 consecutive matches, a run stretching back two years.
Sinner becomes only the second man after Novak Djokovic to win the ATP Finals consecutively without dropping a set, and joins John McEnroe and Boris Becker as the only men to lift multiple trophies at the event on home soil.
Despite Alcaraz having already secured the year-end No. 1 ranking earlier in the week, Sinner’s victory provides a psychological boost, leveling the playing field in their rivalry after Alcaraz had won seven of their past eight encounters.
The Spaniard, who received treatment for an upper right leg issue during the match, acknowledged his opponent's relentless ability to bounce back: “After every loss - you don’t have many - you come back stronger. You’ve had a great year.” Alcaraz remains ahead in the overall career head-to-head 10-6.
Sinner, who leaves Turin with a record champion's payout of $5.071 million, praised the season-ending environment: “To finish it this way, before my Italian fans, is very special for me.” The final confirmed the status of Sinner and Alcaraz as the preeminent players in men's tennis, with both now setting their sights on the 2026 season.
