Jannik Sinner begins his ATP Finals title defence with victory towards Felix Auger-Aliassime on house soil in Italy.
Revealed On 11 Nov 2025
Italy’s Jannik Sinner started his bid to retain the ATP Finals title with a powerful 7-5, 6-1 win over injury-hit Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime of their round-robin conflict at a packed Inalpi Area in Turin on Monday.
The pair had been assembly for the fourth time since August, and eight days after their final conflict, with the result the identical as Sinner eased into the match earlier than overpowering Auger-Aliassime, who wanted medical consideration in the course of the second set.
Advisable Tales
listing of 1 merchandisefinish of listing
Sinner prolonged his unimaginable indoor hardcourt successful streak to 27 matches, his final defeat on the floor coming towards Novak Djokovic within the 2023 ATP Finals decider.
The 24-year-old can be in a battle with Carlos Alcaraz to finish the 12 months as world primary. Sinner should retain his title in Turin to have any probability, whereas the Spaniard can safe the prize by successful two extra matches after victory in his opener.
Sinner started with intent by successful the primary recreation to like and went on to surrender simply three factors on serve within the opening set whereas forcing 5 break factors, displaying a powerful combination of sharp backhand and forehand pictures down the road.
Auger-Aliassime hung in, smashing eight aces to Sinner’s one in the course of the first set, typically at simply the fitting time as he saved 4 break factors, however the Italian got here by means of when it mattered, breaking to win the set.
“It was a really powerful match till 6-5. I had some possibilities to interrupt,” Sinner mentioned.
“He performed some very aggressive tennis, so I’m blissful to beat a really powerful check right now. Clearly, successful the primary match is essential on this competitors and this format.”
Sinner stormed right into a 3-0 lead within the second, and his opponent took a medical timeout for an issue in his left calf.
“I hope it’s nothing too severe,” Sinner mentioned.
“I want him clearly a really speedy restoration, and hopefully he’s again to 100% bodily.”
Auger-Aliassime saved two break factors to keep away from shedding contact fully earlier than Sinner sank the Canadian with one other break to depart the Italian serving for the match, which he did in model, hammering house an ace to clinch the win.
Whereas the Canadian struggled within the second set, Sinner started to get pleasure from himself, enjoying some deft drop pictures to the delight of his house crowd, who rose to their ft to acclaim the win.
On Sunday, German Alexander Zverev beat American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(6) within the different Bjorn Borg Group match. All 4 gamers within the group will meet one another, with the highest two qualifying for the semifinals.
Tuesday’s motion options the Jimmy Connors Group, the place Alcaraz takes on final 12 months’s finalist Taylor Fritz, with each gamers on one win every, and Italian Lorenzo Musetti faces Australian Alex de Minaur.
