Sinner steadies title defense amid Auger-Aliassime's struggle
Under Turin's arena lights, Jannik Sinner channeled composure into a straight-sets win over a hobbled Felix Auger-Aliassime, preserving his indoor streak and year-end ambitions in the Nitto ATP Finals opener.
In the resonant buzz of Turin's Inalpi Arena, Jannik Sinner launched his defense of the Nitto ATP Finals title with the poise of a player attuned to every shift in rhythm. The home crowd's anticipation hung thick as the 24-year-old Italian met Felix Auger-Aliassime in a rematch of their Paris Masters final from eight days earlier. What promised a tactical standoff on the swift indoor hard courts evolved into a test of mental equilibrium when injury struck the Canadian midway through the first set.
First set exposes resolve under pressure
Sinner probed with deep crosscourt backhands and inside-out forehands, drawing errors from Auger-Aliassime's aggressive baseline game. The No. 8 seed repelled two break points at 3-2 and a set point at 5-4, his flat groundstrokes keeping the Italian at bay on the low-bouncing surface. But in the 12th game, after serving at 0-30, pain gripped the Canadian's left leg, altering his movement and allowing Sinner to seize the break for a 7-5 edge.
Auger-Aliassime, returning for his first Nitto ATP Finals since 2022, called for an off-court medical timeout at the set's close. Sinner used the interlude to steady his focus, aware that the crowd's murmurs blended sympathy with the drive for dominance in this round-robin format.
“It was a very tough match until 6-5," said Sinner. "I had some chances to break. He served very well, only once I missed a return, but it can happen. He played some very aggressive tennis, so I’m happy to overcome a very tough test today. Obviously winning the first match is very important in this competition and this format. I’m very happy.”
Winning Start! @janniksin overcomes a physically hampered Auger-Aliassime 7-5 6-1 in his 2025 #NittoATPFinals opener pic.twitter.com/XM5WPOWfZG
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 10, 2025
Injury reshapes second-set dynamics
Back on court, Auger-Aliassime's calf discomfort persisted, prompting on-court treatment at 0-3 and again at 1-4 in the second set. Sinner broke early with a one–two combination of serve and down-the-line forehand, exploiting the Canadian's limited reach to stretch rallies wide. The Italian's clean striking—89 percent of first-serve points won, 32 out of 36—ensured no break chances arose, turning the frame into a 6-1 procession completed in one hour and 41 minutes.
This victory lifted Sinner to 1-0 in the Bjorn Borg Group, extending his indoor winning streak to 27 matches unbroken since the 2023 final loss to Novak Djokovic. The head-to-head now favors the second seed 4-2 over his opponent, a margin built on precision amid the arena's echoing cheers that urged him onward.
“I hope it’s nothing too serious. I wish him obviously a very speedy recovery and hopefully he is back to 100 per cent physically.”
Year-end stakes heighten mental edge
By prevailing on this Monday night, Sinner sustained his pursuit of ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honors, closing to within striking distance of Carlos Alcaraz despite trailing by 1,050 points in the live rankings. Alcaraz had started his campaign with a win over Alex de Minaur the day before, amplifying the pressure in a group stage where outcomes ripple through seasonal legacies. Sinner's undefeated sets here since that Djokovic defeat underscore his affinity for these courts, yet the psychological weight of home expectation demands unwavering balance.
Facing a hampered rival required restraint, as the Italian noted post-match. He emphasized consistency and mental poise, turning potential awkwardness into focused execution that propels him deeper into the Bjorn Borg Group. With @janniksin's form holding firm under the #NittoATPFinals spotlight, the path ahead tests whether this opener's momentum can carry through to Turin’s climactic rounds.
