Sinner and Alcaraz Set for Final Showdown at ATP Masters in Turin

TURIN, Italy — Jannik Sinner of Italy and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain are poised for a thrilling finale at the ATP Masters in Turin, which kicks off this Sunday. The tournament will determine who stands as the world number one in tennis.

Both players have arrived in the Italian capital days ahead of the competition to acclimate to the Inalpi Arena, home to the ATP Finals since 2021. In front of an enthusiastic crowd of 4,000, they even faced off in an intense practice set.

After their practice, the players shared a light moment at the net, taking a selfie that Alcaraz later posted on social media. The Spaniard used two crossed sword emojis and the number one, highlighting the stakes of this fifth edition of the ‘masters tournament,’ which is sure to be a ‘battle for the throne.’

Sinner recently reclaimed the top ATP ranking following his victory at the Masters 1000 in Paris. The 24-year-old now has 1,500 points from last year’s Turin finals to defend. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Alcaraz managed only 200 points last year after being eliminated in the group stage.

The two players have dominated the Grand Slam events this year, with Sinner winning both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, while Alcaraz claimed the Roland Garros and US Open titles. Currently, they are separated by just 250 points in the ATP rankings.

“It’s one of the most important tournaments of the year simply because the world No. 1 is at stake,” said Sinner, who has achieved 51 wins and six losses this year, collecting five trophies.

“If I win, great. If not, it will still be an incredible season,” he added.

This tournament also presents Sinner with an opportunity to claim victory “at home” on his favorite surface, indoor hard courts, where he has amassed a 26-match winning streak.

In head-to-head meetings, Alcaraz currently leads with ten wins compared to Sinner’s five. Notably, Sinner has lost four of their five encounters this season.

<p“When people imagine our rivalry, they think we hate each other, but in reality, our rivalry is very healthy; we are similar,” Alcaraz admitted.

Alcaraz has collected eight titles in 2025, boasting a record of 67 wins and eight losses, with his last defeat occurring during his entry at the Masters 1000 in Paris.

If they meet in the semifinals on Saturday or in the finals on Sunday, it will mark the last duel between the two for the year. Unlike Alcaraz, Sinner has opted out of the Davis Cup’s Final 8 tournament, a trophy he won with Italy in 2023 and 2024, a decision that has disappointed his compatriots, especially with the finals being held in Bolonia this year.

Despite a challenging year physically and emotionally, including a three-month suspension for positive tests for anabolic substances and withdraws from the Masters 1000 events in Cincinnati and Shanghai, Sinner aims to finish strong.

In an unexpected twist, Novak Djokovic, the 38-year-old legend and a seven-time champion at this event, will not be competing in Turin. Djokovic announced his withdrawal after winning the tournament in Athens, which marked the 101st title of his career, citing a shoulder injury.

Replacing Djokovic in the ‘Jimmy Connors’ group alongside Alcaraz are Italian Lorenzo Musetti, American Taylor Fritz, and Australian Alex De Miñaur. In the ‘Björn Borg’ group, Alexander Zverev, two-time winner, Ben Shelton, and Felix Auger-Aliassime will challenge Sinner.