ATP: Alcaraz and Sinner sparkle, Monfils begins goodbye

Carlos keeps on rolling

World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz’s 2025 seems to know no bounds, whatever the obstacle. This tournament it was a rolled left ankle in the ATP 500 Tokyo first round triumph over Sebastian Baez.

By Tuesday, the Spaniard had lifted his eighth title of 2025 with a 6-4, 6-4 scoreline over world No.4 Taylor Fritz.

Make that a tour-leading 67 wins this year (42 wins in his past 43 matches). On top of that supreme tally, the human highlight reel 22-year-old has now collected three successive silverware in Cincinnati, the US Open and now Tokyo, following his Wimbledon final loss at the hands of perennial rival Jannik Sinner.

What a talent, what a season.

“It’s been my best season so far without a doubt,” said Alcaraz. “Eight titles, 10 finals… That shows how hard I’ve worked just to be able to experience these moments and accomplish my goals. I didn’t start the year that good, struggling emotionally, so how I came back from that, I’m just really proud of myself, and of all the people around me who have helped me to be in this position.”

Alcaraz’s Tokyo title tilt truly burst into life in a 6-2, 6-4 quarter-final clash against American Brandon Nakashima. The instinctive tennis was on show, the flicks and tricks were dazzling the Japanese crowd. Into the final four and Alcaraz rebounded 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to down Casper Ruud.

“I enjoyed every single second but the five minutes I was on the floor after I hurt my ankle,” quipped Alcaraz. “I’m really happy with the level that I played, with everything. Starting the week not good with the ankle, and the way that I came back from that, I’m just really happy about it.”

Sinner matches Alcaraz dominance

Just like his rival Alcaraz, world No.2 Jannik Sinner is totting up mind-boggling career numbers already.

In his 30th ATP final, his ninth consecutive on a hard court, the Italian overpowered first-time tour-level finalist Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2 to regain the Beijing trophy.

The Australian Open and Wimbledon champion added a third title to his 2025 resume, however, ‘the fox’ had to dig in along the way. Frenchman Terence Atmane forced a decider, Sinner had the answers 6-4, 5-7, 6-0. In the semi-finals, Alex de Minaur conjured up some exhilarating tennis, but to remain unbeaten in all 11 of their duels, Sinner found the answers again 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Just after the US Open final loss at the hands of Alcaraz last month, Sinner insisted he has to evolve his game, to enhance his variety and weapons. Of course, changes won’t be immediate or drastic, saying that, the world No.2 was pleased with his progress.  

“We’ve been reflecting a lot on the US Open final,” said Sinner, who also won the title in Beijing in 2023 and was runner-up to Alcaraz last year.

“We are working on new things. We are changing a lot of small things where I’m thinking of now. The amount of mistakes at the moment is for sure a little bit higher, but I hope that this recovers in a very positive way, no?

“It’s just a question of time. Let’s see how long I take. I don’t know how much I’m able to do it on actual match court because one thing is practice and one thing is match. Let’s see.”

American young gun Tien surges up 16 spots to world No.36 as a reward for reaching a maiden ATP Final off the back of impressive victories over Lorenzo Musetti and Daniil Medvedev.

Monfils calls time for the last dance

The ATP Tour attention now transfers over to Shanghai, China, for the Masters 1000 blockbuster.

24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, a four-time winner in Shanghai, is in the mix as the No.4 seed. Alcaraz and Monfils are absent from the draw sheet due to recent injuries.

In the case of Gaël Monfils, the French fan favourite took to social media on Wednesday to announce that 2026 will be his last chapter of an absorbing career.

The 39-year-old is regarded as one of the most entertaining and athletic players of this century, competing with his infectious smile along the way. Monfils has so far lifted 13 titles and hit a career-high No.6 in 2016. Time for a few more Gaël blockbusters next year.

“I had a racket in my hands for the first time at two and a half, and began playing professionally at 18," Monfils told his fans.

“The opportunity to turn my passion into a profession is a privilege I have cherished during every match and moment of my 21-year career. Though this game means the world to me, I am tremendously at peace with my decision to retire at the end of the 2026 tennis season.

“When you love something so much, it never feels like a good time to say goodbye. But 40 will be the right time for me. Of course, winning one more title before I’m done would be truly incredible.

"Truthfully though, my only real goal for the year ahead is simple. To enjoy every minute, and to play each match like it’s my last.”

We’ll collectively enjoy Monfils making one last trip to thrill us all at Roland-Garros 2026.