Jannik Sinner beats Carlos Alcaraz to retain ATP Finals title before his home fans

The ultimate instalment of the “Sincaraz” rivalry for 2025 went to Jannik Sinner.

The second-ranked Sinner beat top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (4), 7-5 for the ATP Finals trophy on Sunday within the sixth assembly this yr between the 2 gamers who’re dominating males’s tennis.

Sinner defended the title earlier than his residence Italian followers for less than his second victory over Alcaraz this yr after additionally beating the Spaniard within the Wimbledon last.

“It was an unbelievable season,” Sinner mentioned. “To complete it this fashion, earlier than my Italian followers, could be very particular for me.”

Alcaraz had already secured the year-ending No. 1 rating and was contesting his first last on the occasion for the yr’s high eight gamers.

Alcaraz nonetheless leads his profession conferences with Sinner, 10-6.

Sinner and Alcaraz have met within the final three Grand Slam finals. Alcaraz beat Sinner in a fifth-set tiebreaker to win the French Open; Sinner gained a measure of revenge at Wimbledon; then Alcaraz once more got here out on high on the U.S. Open.

In addition they clashed this yr within the Italian Open last (gained by Alcaraz) and the Cincinnati Open last (gained by Alcaraz when Sinner retired because of sickness).

“I hope you’re going to be prepared for subsequent yr as a result of I will probably be able to hopefully play extra finals in opposition to you,” Alcaraz mentioned throughout the trophy ceremony.

To which Sinner added that he hopes they’ve “nice, nice battles forward of us.”

Sinner additionally gained the Australian Open — beating Alexander Zverev within the last — so he and Alcaraz every gained two majors this yr.

In all, Alcaraz has gained six majors and Sinner has gained 4.

Already early within the first set, the pro-Sinner crowd chanted its customary “Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole; Sin-ner, Sin-ner.”

One fan even held up a picture of Sinner depicted as a saint.

Sinner saved a set level at 5-6 within the tight first set with a giant second serve that Alcaraz couldn’t return. Then the Italian took management of the tiebreaker by operating down a drop shot and responding with a lob that led to an overhead put away.

“I’m extraordinarily pleased with how I dealt with the state of affairs,” Sinner mentioned of saving the set level.

Added Alcaraz, “He got here up with a second serve 185-190 kph (115-118 mph) that shocked me.”

Alcaraz had his proper thigh handled by a coach on two events — and acquired it wrapped after the primary set.

“Didn’t have an effect on me an excessive amount of, to be trustworthy, as a result of I might run nicely,” Alcaraz mentioned.

Alcaraz broke Sinner’s serve within the opening sport of the second set however Sinner then evened it at 3-3.

Sinner then acquired the group going once more within the subsequent sport when he gained a protracted rally and held his finger to his ear — signaling for extra noise contained in the Inalpi Enviornment.

Sinner broke Alcaraz once more to shut it out when the Spaniard missed a backhand large – then fell right down to the courtroom on his again in aid.

“It was an enormous emotion,” mentioned Sinner, who was banned for 3 months earlier within the yr after settling a doping case.

Alcaraz led 28-25 in winners but in addition had extra unforced errors, 26-24.

Sinner mentioned he wished to enhance his serve after the loss to Alcaraz on the U.S. Open and he led 8-5 in aces but in addition had 5 double-faults to Alcaraz’s none.

It was Sinner’s tenth straight win on the finals stretching again to his loss to Novak Djokovic within the 2023 last. What’s extra is that Sinner hasn’t misplaced a set in that stretch.

Sinner additionally prolonged his successful streak on indoor onerous courts to 31 matches.

Within the doubles last, Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten beat Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski 7-5, 6-3.