Sinner Emerges Stronger After Turin Conquest
Jannik Sinner's undefeated run at the Nitto ATP Finals ends with a hard-fought win over Carlos Alcaraz, but the Italian insists his game has climbed to new heights since securing year-end No. 1 last season.
In the charged atmosphere of Turin's PalaAlpitour, Jannik Sinner outlasted Carlos Alcaraz in a tense 7-6(4), 7-5 final, clinching his second straight Nitto ATP Finals title without dropping a set. The indoor hardcourt amplified his penetrating groundstrokes, as he redirected Alcaraz's aggressive inside-out forehands with deep crosscourt replies, forcing the Spaniard into uncharacteristic errors during key exchanges. Home crowd energy pulsed through every point, turning the match into a collective exhale for the 24-year-old after a season marked by triumphs and trials.
Evolving amid setbacks and scrutiny
Sinner's journey began with a commanding Australian Open victory in January, but a three-month injury absence disrupted his momentum, testing his resolve on the tour's unforgiving calendar. He returned with refined tactics, incorporating more underspin slices to disrupt opponents' timing and varying his serve to set up one–two combinations that exploited backhand weaknesses. This approach fueled a 58-6 record and six titles, elevating his career total to 24 while reclaiming ATP Year-End No. 1 honors presented by PIF for the second consecutive year.
Losses became fuel for growth, with Sinner dissecting each to sharpen his baseline game, blending topspin drives with occasional down-the-line redirects to keep rallies dynamic. He captured four Grand Slam finals despite the layoff, his forehand now a reliable inside-out weapon that pinned foes deep. The Italian's quiet determination shone through, transforming pressure into progress as he narrowed his head-to-head deficit against Alcaraz to 6-10 after winning two of their six 2025 clashes.
“Honestly, I don't want to compare [years]. It's an amazing season,” Sinner said. “Last year has been an amazing season. This year making four Grand Slam finals, coming here, winning here, having this big streak in end of the year, it's amazing. But mostly I feel I am a better player than last year, I think this is the most important. It's all part of the process. I always say and believe that if you keep working and trying to be a better player, the results, they're going to come. This year it was like this. 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.”
Indoor streak forges unshakeable focus
Extending his unbeaten indoor run to 31 matches, Sinner treated the PalaAlpitour like an extension of his training ground, where quick footwork and anticipatory returns neutralized Alcaraz's drop shots and net approaches. The low-bouncing surface suited his flat trajectories, allowing him to counter explosive forays with low slices that skidded unpredictably, drawing errors in prolonged baseline duels. Crowd chants built a rhythmic intensity, especially in the tiebreak, where his composure edged out the rival's power.
This mastery stemmed from targeted offseason work, honing net transitions and serve placement to break patterns on faster courts. Finishing the season undefeated in the event amplified his mental fortress, the home support adding emotional layers to each victory. As confetti rained down, the moment crystallized a year where tactical tweaks turned vulnerabilities into strengths, positioning him as a more complete force.
“Amazing feelings finishing the season here in Turin in front of the home crowd. It's the last match of the season. It's an amazing feeling. Very emotional seeing my team there, the whole box. I'm really, really happy,” he said.
Rivalry blends competition and camaraderie
Beneath the on-court intensity with Alcaraz lies a respectful off-court dynamic, where teams mingle freely and conversations flow easily despite the rivalry's edge. Sinner reflects on simpler times when smaller entourages fostered locker-room bonds, a contrast to today's larger setups, yet he maintains close ties beyond national lines. He values honest connections with players like Jack Draper and Reilly Opelka, whose straightforward approaches provide balance amid the tour's demands.
With his greatest rival, the relationship thrives on mutual understanding, allowing open talks even as they push each other tactically—Sinner's redirects often turning Alcaraz's crosscourt winners into defensive scrambles. This harmony extends to their support circles, creating a healthy tension that elevates both. As Sinner eyes 2026, his evolved game and these grounded relationships signal a player ready to sustain dominance, turning every challenge into another step forward on the tour's grand stage.
“I feel like we had this conversation a bit with Darren,” Sinner said. “He used to play back in the day. Players, they used to go dinner, having dinner together, because the teams were not as big. It was maybe player plus one. You tend to be a bit more together. You open up yourself. You tell stories in the locker room. I still feel it's a bit like this. You have your more favourite not players but friends in the locker room. You talk a bit in different ways. Of course, I believe that Carlos has great friends and I have great friends, too. You tend to go a bit more in the national team because it's normal. You spend more time with Italians. I do have also other players I feel very close to: Jack Draper, Reilly Opelka, these kind of friendships. I feel they're honest and you can get along very well. But with Carlos is also a bit different because of on-court reasons. We have a very good relationship, rivalry. I feel like we can talk about everything still. I think it's great. We are good friends off the court. We do respect us in a very healthy way. Also the teams, my team, get along very well with them. I think it's a good harmony.”
