ATP Finals: Sensational Sinner defies Alcaraz to retain his crown

Sinner, indoor is his kingdom

It was Sinner, propelled along by a raucous home crowd, who had the final say. The world No.2 saved set point in the opener and prevailed from a catalogue of exhilarating rallies with a 7-6(4), 7-5 win on Sunday night.

In doing so, Sinner retained his ATP Finals title by claiming all 10 sets once again in another unbeaten run at the Inalpi Arena. That’s 31 indoor victories and counting.

“Amazing feelings, very emotional seeing my team there, the whole box. It means the world to me,” declared Sinner.

"We are individual athletes but without my team, this is not possible. Celebrating this trophy at the end of the year after such an intense last couple of months, there is no better ending.”

Courtesy of another ultra-dominant ATP Finals campaign, Sinner finishes 2025 with a 58-6 match record and six titles. Australian Open and Wimbledon glory launched the 24-year-old up to a total of four majors.

“This year making four Grand Slam finals, coming here, winning here, having this big streak in end of the year, it's amazing,” said Sinner, recalling consecutive trophy lifts in Vienna, the Rolex Paris Masters and then Turin in his past three events.

“But mostly I feel to be a better player than last year, I think this is the most important. It's all part of the process… Honestly, amazing season. Many, many wins, and not many losses. All the losses I had, I tried to see the positive thing and trying to evolve me as a player. I feel like or I felt like this happened in a very good way. I'm extremely happy with the season.”

A long-term supremacy?

Just like the previous supremely dominant era of the ‘Big 3,’ the ‘Big 2’ of Sinner and Alcaraz are forcing each other to great heights.

After an emphatic defeat in the US Open final, Sinner revealed he needed to step out of his “comfort zone” in order to find the answers to keep ahead of Alcaraz. The Italian talisman has spoken of enhanced variety and a bolstered serve this week in Turin.

“They've evolved in a positive way, of course, especially the serving. From the back of the court, it's been a bit more unpredictable. It worked well, or at least better. I do believe that I have still margins where I can play better at times,” maintained the ATP Finals champion, who was broken just once across five matches.

“It's also difficult because you have to give a lot of credit to the opponent. Carlos is an incredible player. Hugely talent. It is difficult. It's every point you have to earn in a very right way. You have to push over the limits.”

Sinner last lost an indoor match in the 2023 ATP Finals silverware showdown across the net from Novak Djokovic. It’s a run that Alcaraz acknowledged in the feel-good trophy ceremony.

“I am really happy with the level I played today,” stated the Year-End World No.1 Alcaraz. “He is someone who has not lost a match on an indoor court for two years now, so that means how great a player you are. Putting in great work with your team every time. You come back even stronger after every loss, you don’t have many. A well-deserved trophy.”

‘Sincaraz’ have dazzled tennis fans in six meetings in 2025, all of them finals, with Sinner taking the top prize in Wimbledon and Turin. However, Alcaraz tops the rankings after capturing trophies in Rome, Roland-Garros, Cincinnati and the US Open versus Sinner.

This riveting rivalry just keeps getting better, even richer, elevating to mind-boggling levels.

“I want to say it’s a great year for you,” continued Alcaraz, before departing Turin with a tongue-in-cheek quip for his major rival. “It’s time to rest, hopefully you’re going to be ready for next year, because I will be ready!”