TURIN, Italy — The ultimate installment 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 12 months between the 2 gamers who’re dominating males’s tennis.
Sinner defended the title earlier than his dwelling Italian followers for less than his second victory over Alcaraz this 12 months after additionally beating the Spaniard within the Wimbledon closing.
“It was an unbelievable season,” Sinner stated. “To complete it this fashion, earlier than my Italian followers, may be very particular for me.”
Alcaraz had already secured the year-ending No. 1 rating and was contesting his first closing on the occasion for the 12 months’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 12 months within the Italian Open closing (gained by Alcaraz) and the Cincinnati Open closing (gained by Alcaraz when Sinner retired on account of sickness).
“I hope you’ll be prepared for subsequent 12 months as a result of I can be able to hopefully play extra finals towards you,” Alcaraz stated in the course of 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 closing — so he and Alcaraz every gained two majors this 12 months.
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 an enormous 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 proud of how I dealt with the state of affairs,” Sinner stated of saving the set level.
Added Alcaraz, “He got here up with a second serve 185-190 kph (115-118 mph) that stunned me.”
Alcaraz had his proper thigh handled by a coach on two events — and bought it wrapped after the primary set.
“Didn’t have an effect on me an excessive amount of, to be sincere, as a result of I may run nicely,” Alcaraz stated.
Alcaraz broke Sinner’s serve within the opening sport of the second set however Sinner then evened it at 3-3.
Sinner then bought 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 Area.
Sinner broke Alcaraz once more to shut it out when the Spaniard missed a backhand extensive – then fell right down to the court docket on his again in aid.
“It was an enormous emotion,” stated Sinner, who was banned for 3 months earlier within the 12 months after settling a doping case.
Alcaraz led 28-25 in winners but in addition had extra unforced errors, 26-24.
Sinner stated he needed 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 closing. What’s extra is that Sinner hasn’t misplaced a set in that stretch.
Sinner additionally prolonged his profitable streak on indoor arduous courts to 31 matches.
Within the doubles closing, Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten beat Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski 7-5, 6-3.
