Key events
Right, that’s it from me. But Daniel will be back tomorrow for the final, and you know you want to join him. Thanks for your company as always. Bye!
So this will be sixth final between Alcaraz and Sinner this year, and the 16th meeting in total. Every time they’ve both competed at a tournament in 2025, one of them has finished with the title, including at all four slams. And this season finale will be no different. The stats are staggering – as was their play today, especially Alcaraz’s in the first set against Auger-Aliassime and Sinner’s in the second against De Minaur. If they bring their best tomorrow, and their neverending French Open final is anything to go by, and final-set tie-breaks weren’t a thing, they’d probably still be going at each other Isner-Mahut style when the new season starts in 2026.
Alcaraz is asked about his otherworldly level in the first set:
I felt like I could do everything on court in the first set. Forehand down the line, drop shot, backhand down the line … I felt like everything was going to be in. Just pushing him to the limit, I’m happy that I played great tennis.
It’s great facing Jannik again, I know I have to play my best to beat him, so I think we’ll both raise our level. It’ll be almost like a Davis Cup tie, everyone will be supporting him, but I’m going to be prepared for that. At least I have my friends and family – hopefully I’ll hear them more than the crowd.
Auger-Aliassime departs, and hopefully he’ll now be heading on the honeymoon he wasn’t able to take when he got married mid-season in September. The former prodigy has shown signs in Turin and this year that at the age of 25 he could yet become a force to be reckoned with near the top of game – no one has been able to fill the void below Alcaraz and Sinner in the rankings – and there’s a big opportunity for him next season if he can stay fit.
Alcaraz beats Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 6-4
The pressure appears to be telling as a big miss from AA at 0-15 makes it 0-30. He recovers a little for 15-30, but then can’t land his first serve and Alcaraz goes after his second, and AA errs once more. After all AA’s hard work in this set, he’s two match points down at 15-40. AA repels the first with a serve bomb, goes for the sideline with a forehand on the second, but it whistles wide! Alcaraz is vamosing and fist pumping and raising his arms in the air because he’s through to his first final at the ATP Finals. And it’s the final everyone expected – Alcaraz v Sinner part six for 2025 – a fitting finale to the year of the Alcaraz-Sinner supremacy.
Second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 5-4 Auger-Aliassime* (*denotes next server)
Now Alcaraz is smiling as he holds to love, rounding things off with a cross-court forehand winner on the run. He’s finding a way to spread sunshine, even though this match is indoors, it’s 10.01pm in Turin and it’s almost winter. AA has done so well to keep with Alcaraz in this set, but Alcaraz’s advantage of serving first means the scoreboard pressure is on AA, who must now hold serve to stay in the semi-final.
Second set: Alcaraz* 6-2, 4-4 Auger-Aliassime (*denotes next server)
15-0, 30-0, 40-0. Not much to see here. Until AA biffs a backhand wide, and then gracefully leaps into the air to expertly put away Alcaraz’s lob. AA’s eyes light up. He’s smiling. He liked that. And he’s still staying in touch with Alcaraz in this second set.
Second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 4-3 Auger-Aliassime* (*denotes next server)
The greatest showman is somewhat subdued as AA works his way to 30-all. AA makes a decent return off Alcaraz’s first serve … but he’s left looking forlornly at the sideline as Alcaraz crunches another winner. So instead of break point it’s game point, and Alcaraz closes it out.
Second set: Alcaraz* 6-2, 3-3 Auger-Aliassime (*denotes next server)
Fine reflexes from AA and it’s 15-0. He’s done well to take the sting out of this match after Alcaraz’s fireworks in the first set. Whatever happens from here on in, he’s had a resurgent 2025, reaching the US Open semi-finals and winning three titles, and he’s perhaps the player most likely to take it to Alcaraz and Sinner next season. At the age of 25 he should be nearing his peak, and he’s guaranteed a place in the world’s top five when the new rankings come out on Monday. He holds to 15.
Second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 3-2 Auger-Aliassime* (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz advances to 30-15, just as my screen goes blurry. Another forehand is flying past AA when the screen comes back into focus. The ball probably wasn’t in focus for AA, though, the speed at which it was travelling. AA offers some resistance from 40-15 for deuce, but Alcaraz has offered AA only one break point in the match so far and he isn’t in the mood to give him another here. Alcaraz holds from deuce. And he increases his winner count by another four.
Second set: Alcaraz* 6-2, 2-2 Auger-Aliassime (*denotes next server)
More Alcaraz wizardry as he spins his racket on his finger as he waits for AA to serve. AA combats the magic with his trusty serve. 30-0. 40-0, with a huge cross-court drive volley. The Canadian should really make it game, when he sets up the point with another snarling serve … but his next shot goes into the net. And the net cord then takes his forehand wide for 40-30. He really can’t afford another error. But he double faults! His first of the match. From 40-0, it’s deuce. AA rediscovers the range on his forehand to get to advantage, then rams into the tramlines and it’s deuce once more. But he survives after a second advantage.
Second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 2-1 Auger-Aliassime* (*denotes next server)
AA responds with a hold to 15 too, and he plays a smart point on Alcaraz’s serve as he slides forward to the drop shot before drawing the error. 15-all. But this game goes the way of every Alcaraz service game before it, with the Spaniard coming through. And – of course – he throws in another forehand winner for good measure.
Second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 1-0 Auger-Aliassime* (*denotes next server)
Thirteen winners and just two unforced errors from Alcaraz in that set. It was up there with the level of Sinner’s flow state in the second set against De Minaur earlier. And it’s hard to see what AA can do if Alcaraz maintains this. Yes, he needs to hit to Alcaraz’s backhand more, but that’s easier said than done when even Alcaraz’s forehand rally balls are as powerful as most players’ winners. Alcaraz starts the second set with a hold to 15.
Alcaraz wins the first set 6-2
Big support for AA from the crowd as he steps up to serve to stay in the set. Alcaraz makes his intentions clear from the off, jumping into the air to set off a forehand cross-court rocket. 0-15. 0-30, after another fizzing forehand, this time down the line. AA would be well-advised to steer clear of that side from now on … but it’s so hard to dictate the points and out-manoeuvre the world No 1, and then Alcaraz throws down a 100mph-plus forehand rally ball which is too much for AA. 0-40 becomes set when AA nets after a 13-shot rally. We’re a set away from another Sincaraz final.
First set: Alcaraz 5-2 Auger-Aliassime* (*denotes next server)
Anything Felix can do … Alcaraz replies with a love hold of his own. The world No 1’s a game away from the opening set.
First set: Alcaraz* 4-2 Auger-Aliassime (*denotes next server)
A love hold for AA, sealed with an ace. That’ll have felt good. It’s the first love hold of the semi-final. The Canadian stays in touch, but it’s Alcaraz still with the break.
First set: Alcaraz 4-1 Auger-Aliassime* (*denotes next server)
At 15-all AA, on the baseline, breaks through Alcaraz’s defences at the net. A little sniff for the Canadian. Alcaraz calmly volleys for 30-all. But here’s a missed volley for 30-40. It’s been a mixed bag from Alcaraz at the net in this game. And AA has his first break point. AA hits a hard return … gets a bit of help from the net cord … but then dumps his next shot into the net. Deuce. AA balloons a backhand out … Alcaraz is there for the taking on the next point, having been sent wide right … all AA has to do is strike it beyond Alcaraz’s left … but there’s too much on the shot. Alcaraz backs up the break.
Alcaraz breaks: Alcaraz* 3-1 Auger-Aliassime (*denotes next server)
A collective sigh as AA drops 0-15 down. Maybe the crowd want a contest; or maybe they’d rather Sinner faced AA in the final. They’re cheering when AA comes back for 15-all, but are subdued once more as Alcaraz draws the error for 15-30. A smattering of applause as Alcaraz’s forehand again does the damage for 15-40, two break points, to add to the three he had in AA’s previous service game. AA smacks a serve down the middle … Alcaraz’s return drops just long. A fourth bp saved. But not a fifth, because Alcaraz brings his best, going for the drop shot before showing tremendous athleticism, reflexes and octopus arms to volley back AA’s reply for the winner!
First set: Alcaraz 2-1 Auger-Aliassime* (*denotes next server)
At 15-all, AA appeals to Hawk-Eye to save him from going 30-15 down. It’s in vain. Alcaraz then annihilates AA with a forehand cross-court winner that scorches the sideline for 40-15. And it’s swiftly game. Six winners already from Alcaraz, who skips back to his chair. He’s in the zone.
First set: Alcaraz* 1-1 Auger-Aliassime (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz is fist-pumping after he pulls off the first passing shot of the match with a backhand down the line to rival those Sinner produced earlier. 0-15. And he’s fist-pumping again after a cross-court forehand on the run sets up an inside-in forehand winner. Wow. 0-30. 0-40. Three brilliant points from Alcaraz and this is some statement of intent. Alcaraz gets a little over-excited on the first break point and overhits, but I don’t think anyone can blame him for going for another winner given his success so far. And the next two bps disappear too, as AA increases his level to stop Alcaraz’s surge. Three deuces and three advantages AA later, AA escapes with a hold.
First set: Alcaraz 1-0 Auger-Aliassime* (*denotes next server)
Ready? Let’s play. Alcaraz to serve first. Auger-Aliassime – whom I’m calling Double AA, AA, FAA or Felix from now on for the sake of brevity/my fingers – attacks from the off, ripping a winning return off a second serve. But Alcaraz sees Felix’s aggression and raises it with a winner of his own. 15-all. A cross-court exchange follows, before the Canadian makes a mess of a forehand down the line. Nonetheless, this has been a high-quality start from both players. Alcaraz accelerates to 40-15 but, having been moved one way and then the other by AA, he nets. He seems to be blaming his shoelaces, which he re-ties. From 40-30 he takes the game.
Prediction time. “I hope it’s a three-set epic, because Auger-Aliassime’s resurgence has been so fun to watch,” says Laura Robson on Sky. “But I think you have to go with Alcaraz; it seems right to end the season with another Alcaraz-Sinner final.” And Tim Henman’s in agreement: “Auger-Aliassime has to win the rallies in the first few shots, otherwise Alcaraz is too powerful. Maybe Auger-Aliassime can take it to some tie-breaks, but most likely it’s Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets.”
Auger-Aliassime, dressed all in purple, wins the toss and elects to take a shot at Alcaraz’s serve first. Alcaraz, with his bleached hair almost as bright as his fluorescent yellow top, charges to the back of the court, Rafa-like, to start the warm-up.
Auger-Aliassime arrives first, before the Italian crowd greet Alcaraz with a few pantomime boos. Probably mainly because of his status as Sinner’s main rival, but maybe they’re also disappointed that their home hero played earlier rather than in the evening session.
Ho hum. The players are late. So let’s talk tactics. Auger-Aliassime, like so many players, is about his huge serve and forehand. He’s unlikely to be intimidated by Alcaraz and will attack the world No 1, but the Spaniard has more variety and a better all-round game. Alcaraz won their past four meetings in straight sets – but none of those were on indoor hard, Auger-Aliassime’s favourite surface – so Turin’s Inalpi Arena definitely provides the Canadian with a greater opportunity.
Alcaraz comes into this semi-final with the comfort of knowing he’s already secured the year-end world No 1 ranking, the trophy for which he picked up yesterday. With eight titles this season, on hard courts, clay, grass and indoors, this has been his most consistent year across all surfaces – rivalled only, of course, by Sinner. If Alcaraz wins tonight a 14th title of the year will be heading to tennis’s top two.
Already this evening, the all-British doubles semi-final has gone the way of Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, who’ve taken a match tie-break 10-8 to oust the top seeds and Wimbledon champions Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool. And we’ve now got three-quarters of an all-British final, because Britain’s Henry Patten and Finland’s Harri Heliovaara won earlier.
The last time these two met, Alcaraz gave Auger-Aliassime a proper beating at the 2024 Olympics. Expect this evening to be closer:
Preamble (parte seconda)
Buonasera! I’m back. And Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime will be joining us in about 20 minutes.
This semi-final pits the world No 1 against the former prodigy who was once spoken of as a possible successor to the Big Three before Alcaraz had even entered the conversation. Auger-Aliassime appeared to have greatness pending when he beat Federer, Nadal and Djokovic before the age of 21, but the Canadian was stalled by a failure to win finals, inconsistency and injuries. This season has been the 25-year-old’s best since 2022 – which was the last time he got a win over the now 22-year-old Alcaraz – with a run to the US Open semi-finals in September and three titles, two of which came on indoor hard courts. Auger-Aliassime may not be the leading man tonight, but he’s arguably been the better player indoors this year. Alcaraz will not take him at all lightly.
Tumaini Carayol
Jannik Sinner continued his total dominance of the indoor season as he held off an admirable early challenge from Alex de Minaur before bulldozing his path into the ATP Finals for a third consecutive year with a supreme 7-5, 6-2 victory, extended his winning record against the Australian to 13-0.
Sinner continues to perform at an astoundingly consistent level that has allowed him to rapidly rise the list of all-time great men’s tennis players. In a season that included a three-month doping ban between February and May, Sinner will attempt to win his sixth ATP title of the year in his 10th final. The 24-year-old has now won 30 consecutive indoor hard court matches and 14 matches in a row after his recent triumphs at the Vienna Open and Paris Masters. He has also won 18 consecutive sets at the ATP Finals.
“Making three times consecutive finals in Turin means a lot to me,” he said. “It’s a great atmosphere, great place for me to play tennis and also a great place for me to close this beautiful season I’ve played in.”
The tournament is now one match away from what many consider the dream final – a sixth and final showdown between Sinner, the world No 2, and the No 1, Carlos Alcaraz, in a season that has been defined by the duo’s dominance.
Alcaraz will attempt to join Sinner in the semi-final on Saturday night as he faces Felix Auger-Aliassime, the eighth seed. The in-form Canadian ousted Alexander Zverev in straight sets on Friday night to reach the semi-finals of the ATP Finals for the first time. On Thursday, Alcaraz sealed his status as the ATP year-end No 1 by rolling through his group with a flawless 3-0 record.
You can read the rest of Tumaini’s match report here:
So the Italian has got the job done, now it’s up to Carlos Alcaraz to stick to his part of the deal later – when he faces Felix Auger-Aliassime – and give us the latest instalment in the Sinner v Alcaraz duopoly. I’ll be back for that later (the match is scheduled for 8.30pm Turin time/7.30pm GMT). Do join me then. A dopo … !