Summary
Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(4) 7-5, winning the ATP Finals for the second year in a row, again without losing a set. He is now unbeaten in 31 matches indoors.
Alcaraz was the better player in the first set and, at 6-5, held break point on two separate occasions. But both times, Sinner fought back then, in the tiebreak, upped his level to seize the advantage.
At the start of the second, Alcaraz broke – the first time Sinner had lost his serve in the competition – but shortly afterwards, the Italian restored parity and from there, was by far the better player, the Spaniard perhaps struggling with a hamstring injury. Up by a 6-5 and a set, Sinner saved game point with a glorious backhand return, then Alcaraz sent one long and, though his performance this week was enough to secure the year-end world no 1 status, it was his rival and friend who lifted the trophy once more.
Key events
That, then, is us, but you’ve obviously not had enough sport for one weekend, so here’s some more:
Otherwise, though, we’ll see you in Melbourne; peace out.
Summary
Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(4) 7-5, winning the ATP Finals for the second year in a row, again without losing a set. He is now unbeaten in 31 matches indoors.
Alcaraz was the better player in the first set and, at 6-5, held break point on two separate occasions. But both times, Sinner fought back then, in the tiebreak, upped his level to seize the advantage.
At the start of the second, Alcaraz broke – the first time Sinner had lost his serve in the competition – but shortly afterwards, the Italian restored parity and from there, was by far the better player, the Spaniard perhaps struggling with a hamstring injury. Up by a 6-5 and a set, Sinner saved game point with a glorious backhand return, then Alcaraz sent one long and, though his performance this week was enough to secure the year-end world no 1 status, it was his rival and friend who lifted the trophy once more.
Sinner takes the trophy, then my coverage cuts, briefly. Sinner tries to speak but the crowd won’t let him, then says he’s not yet ready to speak in Spanish but give him some times.
He congratulates Alcaraz for his year, saying he’s made great memories and, though they’ve not yet spoken about the no 1 position, if it’s not him, he wants it to be Carlos, who inspires him to work and is the most energetic player on tour.
I’m not sure why he’s speaking in English, not Italian, but says there are people in his team he wants to understand him as he’s grateful to them, then switches to thanks the sponsors, tournament organisers, crowd and so on. What a lovely boy he is: his parents must be so proud.
Now here comes the champ…
After pretty much ignoring Alcaraz to support the Italian favourite, the crowd finally give him the adulation he deserves. He loves it, saying he’s happy at the level he hit today, but he played against someone unbeaten indoors in two years who comes back even stronger after every loss, though there aren’t many. “Well deserved final,” he concludes.
He then advises Sinner to “rest for next year because I will be ready,” the easy charisma flowing out the screen and enveloping us in its kindness. He thanks his team at the end of a long year of great achievement and level and though this one wasn’t to be, he leaves court with his head held high having left everything out there.
Finally, he thanks the Torino crowd for their energy and respect, which he really appreciates. He feels great playing here, and hopes to see everyone next year, departing with a wave, yet more friends made. What a lovely boy he is: his parents must be so proud.
It’s just impossible to see any of the chasing pack getting good enough to mither Alcaraz or Sinner next year. I hope Joã0 Fonseca gets there, but he’s got to be a year or two away – and don’t forget, the colossal two are still improving. For the foreseeable future, the dye looks cast.
The players, of course, enjoyed an embrace at the end of the match – I can’t say I don’t enjoy needle and pettiness in my sport, but peace and love are also quite good. It’s time for the trophy presentation.
“It represents not only tennis,” he says. “We are individual athletes but without the team it is not possible.”
It wads a close matchup, he says, and he’s really happy with how he handled the set points in the first. It was tough to handle the pressure but he served very well at times, against one of the best if not the best returner in the game – Djokovic is also up there – and he’s very happy.
I’ll bet, imagine knowing the joy and satisfaction he’s experiencing right now. Indoors, he’s 31 matches undefeated, the record McEnroe’s 47 between 1978 and 1987.
Sinner enjoyed that celebration, and well he might. Once he retrieved the second-set break, he was by far the better player, Alcaraz struggling with his hamstring, and his shot-selection was, I think, the difference. Here he is!
Jannik Sinner beats Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(4) 7-5 to win the ATP Finals
*Alcaraz (4)6-7 5-7 Sinner Two disguised forehands, both to the forehand corner, make Alcaraz 15-0, but then at the net, his pick-up half-volley curls just wide. We wind up at 30-all, Sinner making much greater impression on return, but a lovely forehand, inside-out and flat raises game point … so Sinner smites a ludicrous backhand return down the line for deuce. AND HAVE A LOOK! The Italian goes cross, again on the backhand, Alcaraz, perhaps hampered by injury stretches … and nets his pick-up! At advantage, the champ has championship point … and Alcaraz swats a backhand long! He may be world no 1, but Sinner is the ATP Finals winner, taking the trophy without conceding a set for the second year in a row. He is an absolute joke of a tennis player, an absolute joke of a human being, and the crowd go wild, him and his team too! He played brilliantly all week, really well tonight, and can we start next season tonight, please?
Alcaraz (4)6-7 5-6 Sinner* Offered a second serve, Alcaraz moves way behind the baseline when you might’ve expected him to go forward; he knows the ball will arrive at him slowly, I guess, and Sinner might take even more pace off it to make sure he gets it in. Either way, the ruse works, but from 0-15, Sinner moves ahead in the game, a terrific backhand, wrists breaking to get the angle across the face of the net, setting up a winning volley. From there, we move to 40-15, further brilliance from sinner, the game finished with a forehand pass cross-court after Alcaraz looks to have done enough with a decent approach and volley. Not so! Sinner remains the better player and is, once more, a game away.
*Alcaraz (4)6-7 5-5 Sinner Sinner goes long on the forehand, just, to cede 15-0, but then Alcaraz does likewise and this is getting tense. The US Open champ, though, soon makes 40-15, a T-serve/forehand combo-move securing the hold.
Alcaraz (4)6-7 4-5 Sinner* Alcaraz nets a volley responding to a pass he now thinks was going out, chuntering at himself in displeasure. Then, at 30-0, Sinner larrups consecutive forehands to the same corner, spanks an ace out wide to secure the hold, and the Spaniard must shortly serve to stay in the match, a second tiebreak win for the champ the set’s likeliest outcome; he’s comfortably the better player now.
*Alcaraz (4)6-7 4-4 Sinner The standard of the match isn’t quite as high as I expected, but it’s extremely absorbing. Alcaraz holds to love and he needed something emphatic, now second-best in the contest.
Alcaraz (4)6-7 3-4 Sinner* Alcaraz isn’t moving as freely as before and a Sinner ace makes 30-15 … but a backhand winner, down the line on return, makes 30-all. I imagine we’re all expecting an ace next but Sinner misses by a fraction then, offered a look at a second serve, a return to the corner facilitates the volley at net and Alcaraz has advantage … only to then go long, ceding deuce in the process. A brutal rally follows, 24 strokes, and when Alcaraz errs, Sinner noises up the crowd; he’s winning the longer points, but have a look! Sent to the forehand corner, way behind the line, the younger man somehow conjures a forehand winner cross-court that brings us back to deuce. From there, though, the champ closes out, upping the pressure on his opponent who will shortly serve potentially two games from defeat.
*Alcaraz (4)6-7 3-3 Sinner An ace opens the game, then two booming forehands make 30-15, Alcaraz now easily the better player. I’m not sure if it’s on account of losing the first set or his dicky hammy, but he’s playing ultra-aggressively now … though, as I type, Sinner levels the game at 30-all, the Spaniard bangs a flat forehand long, and must now face his first break point of the night. A huge serve follows, cramping Sinner to the body; somehow, he bambis his knees to get it back, the ball looping and landing just in, then the champ goes again with his drop, catches the top of the net, and that’s the break back! The crowd, of course, calm themselves because who wants to take a game in such circumstances … not really, they go wild and rightly so.
Alcaraz (4)6-7 3-2 Sinner* Alcaraz is playing more aggressively now, perhaps because of his hamstring situation, standing nearer the baseline and looking for winners. But Sinner quickly makes 30-0, a netted forehand raises three game points … and, following yet another double, the second is taken.
*Alcaraz (4)6-7 3-1 Sinner Down 0-15, Alcaraz swings an ace down the middle, then slices a serve way out wide to which Sinner can only introduce his frame. And from there, he closes out, sealing the deal with an ace.
Alcaraz (4)6-7 2-1 Sinner*Alcaraz has hit a seam the last couple of games, playing a level that is his and his alone. He makes 15-all, hooks a backhand return on to the line … then doesn’t give a drop enough gas. So up 30-15, Sinner shows him how it’s done, this a wrinkle he looks to have added to his game this week then it’s back to the good, honest, old-fashioned forehand barrage until Alcaraz errs.
Alcaraz (4)6-7 2-0 Sinner* The way Sinner gave up the break will be distressing, and he’s soon watching winners go by. But at 40-15, Alcaraz goes long … only to then close out with a big serve and volley.
*Alcaraz (4)6-7 1-0 Sinner Alcaraz has his hammy strapped at change of ends and, when Sinner doubles, has 15-30. Gosh, another follows, donating two break points, and he only needs one, the champ overhitting and losing serve for the first time this tournament.
Jannik Sinner takes the first set against Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(4).
Alcaraz (4)6-7 Sinner A long, sapping rally, pretty even, but then a tame volley is followed by a gorgeous lob, the 17th stroke of the rally, and Sinner has set point! A service winner follows, and from set point down, Sinner has taken his 19th set in a row in this competition! It wasn’t the best set I’ve ever seen, but it was tight and tense; I’m sure that will only intensify, and the crowd go absolutely rabid.
Alcaraz 6-6 Sinner (4-5) A backhand swiped wide cedes the min-break, then another doubles it. But just as Sinner looks a cert for the set, hammering a forehand that has the crowd celebrating, it’s soon shushing itself as Alcaraz keeps the ball in play, and a terrible drop – why did he play that, at this point? – level us up again at 3-3. Ooh, but after Sinner makes 4-3, another poor drop from Alcaraz means he’s soon hoisting a desperate lob, thundered back at him via overhead, and the champ is two points away from seizing the set,
Alcaraz 6-6 Sinner (2-2) The crowd sing Sinner’s name, but he can’t sort his first return and Alcaraz leads 1-0; a terrifying forehand winner levels us up and a second-serve ace – he daren’t rely on the kicker give him 2-1. Oh, and Alcaraz lets go a drop, it’s disguised but the trajectory is all wrong, it bounces up, and Sinner … butchers into the net! That was a huge chance for the mini-break, but instead, following a further hold, we’re at 2-2.
Alcaraz 6-6 Sinner* Given a look at a second serve, Alcaraz will be disappointed to swat a backhand return long. But he immediately gets another go, stepping in, and this time, the return is decent, followed by a drive a backhand to the corner which sets up a forehand winner to the opposite side. Sinner, though, responds with a service winner … only to go down the line to the forehand, offering space if Alcaraz goes cross … and he hooks a beauty of a winner to make 30-all. Naturally, a service winner follows but then, out of nowhere, Alcaraz disburses his first drop of the night, disguised like Transfer in Willy Fogg, and when the next return is good enough to incite a defensive response, the Spaniard puts away a volley to raise set point. Here we go! Oh, and Sinner misses his first serve, so goes again without taking much power off – that’s a brave call but the right call, and Alcaraz can’t get it back; deuce. another big serve follows, a forehand winner behind it, then a service winner and, as we thought we might, we go to a breaker.
*Alcaraz 6-5 Sinner A love hold and Alcaraz’s hammy looks OK; Sinner must now serve to force a breaker.
“I have been following this sport from the late 70s,” begins Krishnamoorthy V, “and each time I find a great pair with some out of the world hitting, and convince myself that thisbisbthe best, tgen comes the next pair.
Borg – McEnroe, Lendl – Wilander, Becker – Edberg, Sampras – Agassi, Federer- Nadal and now Sinner – Alcaraz and you can easily insert Djokovic anywhere in the last 23 years (still counting)
What you said in the preamble about Alcaraz is true for most of these athletes – physics and biology do not apply to these. There were tournaments when I am sure I have consumed more liquid than these players. Hats off.”
I don’t think I’ve seen a player with more inventive ways to win points since McEnroe; Edberg and Federer had hands, obviously, but most of the time you knew what shot they’d try and play, whereas Alcaraz invents them on the fly.
Alcaraz 5-5 Sinner* Alcaraz accepts a massage and, from courtside, Laura Robson tells us that Sinner’s box are on their feet pretty much every time he wins a point; they know he can’t really afford to lose on his favourite surface, given what happened at Flushing Meadows. That also explains why the champ looked nervous at the start – he’s got more to lose here – and, with Alcaraz running to his mark, treatment over, he must serve to say in the set. A brutal ace makes 15-0 and a service winner doubles the advantage then, at 40-0, a forehand makes 40-15 and a double intensifies the situation. So of course Sinner splatters an ace out wide, and these two are so good they’re cancelling each other out.
*Alcaraz 5-4 Sinner At 15-0, Alcaraz nets a backhand, and by the standard, this is a chance for Sinner. In comms, Tim notes that at the end of the last game, the Spaniard was shaking out a leg, then at 30-15, the champ shapes to go cross from centre, instead clouting a winner cross and on to the line. So of course Alcaraz finds a wrong-footing forehand winner of his own, breaking the sideline thanks to a terrific angle, and a monster to the corner settling the game. Oh, but at change of ends, he calls for the trainer, appearing to cite a hamstring issue; let’s hope it’s just tightness or a twinge.
Alcaraz 4-4 Sinner* A decent return from Alcaraz; a backhands winner, crushed cross-court, from Sinner. An ace follows, then a return into the net, and increasingly, it looks like this match will be settled by a point here or there in a tiebreak here or there; as I type, Sinner secures his hold to 15 with a serve out wide and overhead at net.
*Alcaraz 4-3 Sinner A service winner, at 133mph, makes 30-0, but Sinner retorts with a backhand so good, Alcaraz makes a that face of approval he does, scrunching and protruding lips, then nods at the Italian’s box. Another service winner follows, then a ball out wide and a pataway putaway at net. As we near the business end of the set, there’s nothing between these two freaks of nature.
Alcaraz 3-3 Sinner* We’ve yet to enjoy a break point, but there’s a sense we’re warming up, Sinner leaping into a forehand but, then caught at the net when letting go a poor volley, he does well Alcaraz opts for lob not pass; the overhead putaway is simple. But an overhit backhand levels the game, his six unforced off that wing; this next point feels like a biggun. And it goes to Sinner, a wrong-footing forehand doing the trick; a serve +1 follows for 40-15, then a rally featuring loopier balls, until the champ astonishes a forehand down the line to secure his hold.
*Alcaraz 3-2 Sinner Successive shots on to the baseline earn Sinner 15-all and it’s soon 15-30, Alcaraz levelling the game with a forehand to the corner. And from there, we wind up at deuce, a magical backhand, ushered down the line, giving the Spaniard advantage, converted when Sinner needlessly thwacks long.
Alcaraz 2-2 Sinner* A delivery into the net and a chance for Alcaraz, confiscated by way of booming forehands. An ace down he T follows, and that’s the hold, secured after 11 minutes stewing at deuce.
Alcaraz 2-1 Sinner* Alcaraz practises his golf swing then gets back to rehearsing groundstrokes and we’re almost ready to resume, Sinner serving at deuce.
Alcaraz 2-1 Sinner* Good news: the man getting the attention is fine.
Alcaraz 2-1 Sinner* Sinner might actually appreciate the pause to refocus, because he’s not yet at ease, but we might be here a while. Someone died earlier in the week, but hopefully this isn’t as serious.
Alcaraz 2-1 Sinner* Alcaraz is going a pretty good job of getting Sinner’s serve back into play, but he’s making forehand errors – as he does for 15-0, an ace compounding the situation. A forehand clobbered wide takes us to 30-15, then one long levels the game, pressure building on the champ, who looks nervously irritated; can he respond? Well, he misses his first serve and this is a chance for the break, but a protracted rally, fluctuating both ways, ends when Alcaraz nets. Oh, and an untimely double takes us to deuce; I’ve not seen Sinner this mentally unsettled in some time, but someone in the crowd has been taken ill, so’ we’ll pause until they’re sorted; godpseed.
*Alcaraz 2-1 Sinner Sinner goes long on the forehand, then cracks another to the corner, ball spinning away … and somehow Alcaraz, on the strech, flaps a winner down the line. That is ridiculous behaviour, and the love hold is quickly secured, only one point taken against serve in our three games so far.
Alcaraz 1-1 Sinner* Down 15-0, Alcaraz pounds a fine return on to the basline, only to net an inside-outer when ahead on the rally. He’ll be annoyed, but gratified he was able to take control … for as long as it takes for Sinner to annihilate and ace down the T. That’s 40-0, and a big serve +1 is enough to level us up.
*Alcaraz 1-o Sinner (*denotes server) Alcaraz overhits wide for 15-all, but a wrong-footing forehand takes him ahead again then, offered a look at a second serve, Sinner’s down-the-line return is wide. A backhand into the net then seals the hold and I’m intrigued to see how the next game goes: Alcaraz’s best chance of breaking might be before the champ grooves.
Alcaraz to serve, ready … play.
So who’s going to win? Every time I think about it and I’ve done that a lot, I go Sinner, then overrule myself with Alcaraz because I just can’t go against his x-factor. I think he’ll find a way, I just don’t know what it is.
As world no 2, Sinner, the defending champion, is called out first, and the crowd go meshugge. Alcaraz is greeted politely, but wait till he misses a first serve or nets an overhead.
In the tunnel, the players limber up, then Sinner leads off as they walk towards court. The anticipation is painful, but here we go….
We’ve got three lads singing it, but let’s be real, this isn’t best experienced with soft, tuneful voices; it needs volume, numbers and aggression.
Time for the Italian anthem. Tuuuuuune!
An exciting variable tonight: Sinner is playing at home. The Turin crowd will be partial in the extreme, the atmosphere steaming, and much as I’m sure Alcaraz can handle it, he’s not used to it.
The problem Alcaraz has, specifically on this surface, is Sinner’s serve; the return is taken out of the equation so often it’s almost impossible to create a breaking opportunity. I’d not be surprised to see three tiebreakers tonight, because Alcaraz is serving well too and, in New York, produced perhaps the best performance of his career in that aspect.
These two have met five times in 2025; the Wimbledon final is Sinner’s only win. But the reason Calv thinks he’ll win indoors is that he hits the harder, cleaner shots and, with no interference from the elements or the surface, he can merrily thwack away with no fears.
I do, though, wonder if either will attack the other’s backhand, and how often Alcaraz can haul Sinner to the net. I’m sure Sinner will to plant feet on the baseline and hit to the corners, down the line; Alcaraz will be a bit more flexible, looking to conjure angles both line and cross.
So what of our match this evening? Well, Coach Calv reckons there’s never really any strategy when these two meet because they’re both so good. “No major tactical battle. They’ll both hit hard, whoever hits it better wins. Indoors, I think Sinner takes it.”
Henry, by the way, is a lovely man it was pleasure to interview earlier this year. He got engaged the other day; I daresay he’s had worse weeks, as this piece reveals.
Earlier this afternoon, a right result for the GBG. Regular readers will be familiar with Coach Calvin Betton, whose insights are so informative and so much better than what you get elsewhere. Well, Henry Patten, his charge, along with Harri Heliovvara, won this tournament’s doubles competition, beating Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury 5 and 3.
In the absence of Premier League football, it’s been an amazing week of sport: this tournament has been a complete banger, featuring some of the best tennis we’ve seen this year. In particular, Fritz v Alcaraz, De Minaur v Musetti and De Minaur v Fritz were fantastic; the Grand Slam of Darts has been great, in particular Luke Humphries’ nine-darter to clinch victory against Michael Smith and his knockout wins over Smith then Gerwyn Price; and the Champion of Champions snooker, one of the best tournaments on the calendar, has featured some terrific contests, in particular Kyren Wilson’s defeat to Zhao Xintong. We are blessed.
Also going on:
Preamble
Buonasera and welcome to the ATP Finals 2025 – day eight!
We play sport for lots of reasons, central among them because we don’t what’s going to happen; for something a bit less predictable than the trudge through everyday life. But there are times we know exactly what will eventuate, finding thrill in a march to the inevitable through the joy of watching players too good for the inspire helpless anguish in those desperately seeking to compete. Well, this competition – and men’s tennis in general – is giving us both
When we started here, last Sunday afternoon, it was impossible to conceive of a final that didn’t pit Carlos Alcaraz against Jannik Sinner – every competition both have entered this year, one has won, and between them they’ve taken eight grand slam titles in a row, contesting the last three finals. They are wonderful, they are inevitable, and they are – despite their affirming amity and meritorious menschlichkeit – vicious, remorseless killers.
But now we have our predictable final, we’ve not a clue how it’ll shake out. On the one hand, Sinner is unbeaten in 30 indoor matches, having played just six tie-breaks and three deciders. Last year, he won this title without dropping a set, never losing more than four games in any one, while this term he’s not even been broken, devastatingly competent in all aspects of the game.
Alcaraz, though, is not subject to the same laws of physics and biology which govern the rest of us, able to bend nature to his will in a way that is almost suspicious. When he lost convincingly at Wimbledon, it seemed like a separation had taken place, but then in New York he delivered a performance of such emphatic superiority that it felt like he was taking the game beyond where Sinner can go. If he wins tonight, on this surface, the statement will resonate louder than the trophy; if Sinner wins tonight, he’ll reassert as the better man in predictable conditions; and whatever happens, it’ll be a lot, lot better than anything else the world has planned for us today.
Play: 6pm local, 5pm GMT.