Sinner Starts ATP Finals Strong With Victory Over Felix

Italy’s Jannik Sinner made a powerful start to his ATP Finals title defense, defeating Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 6-1 in their round-robin match at the Inalpi Arena in Turin. Playing in front of a packed home crowd, the 23-year-old looked confident and sharp from the very first serve, signaling his strong intention to retain the title he won last year.

This was the fourth meeting between the two players since August and came only eight days after their last encounter. Despite familiarity between the two, the result was the same — another convincing win for Sinner. The Italian took some time to settle but soon found his rhythm, forcing Auger-Aliassime to defend constantly and rely on his serve to stay in the contest.

Sinner began aggressively, holding his serve to love in the opening game. He gave up just three points on serve in the entire first set and created five break point opportunities with his powerful baseline shots. The Canadian, however, managed to save four of those break points with his strong serving, hitting eight aces compared to Sinner’s one. But the Italian finally broke through at 6-5 to claim the set, sending the home crowd into cheers.

In the second set, Auger-Aliassime’s challenge weakened as he struggled with a left calf injury. The 24-year-old required a medical timeout early in the set, allowing Sinner to take control of the match. “I hope it’s nothing too serious,” Sinner said after the game, wishing his opponent a speedy recovery. The injury clearly affected the Canadian’s movement, making it difficult for him to compete against Sinner’s relentless pace.

Sinner capitalized on his opponent’s struggles, racing to a 3-0 lead in the second set. He continued to show impressive composure, using a mix of deep groundstrokes and occasional drop shots to keep the crowd entertained. Auger-Aliassime fought back to save a few break points but couldn’t stop Sinner from breaking again. The Italian eventually sealed the win with a powerful ace, closing the match in just under 90 minutes.

With this victory, Sinner extended his indoor hardcourt winning streak to 27 matches — an incredible record that dates back to 2023. His last loss on an indoor surface came against Novak Djokovic in the ATP Finals final that year. This remarkable form highlights Sinner’s growth as a top contender on the ATP Tour and strengthens his claim as one of the best indoor players in the world.

Sinner’s focus now shifts to maintaining momentum as he battles with Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz for the world number one spot. To end the year on top, Sinner must defend his title successfully in Turin, while Alcaraz needs just two more victories following his opening win. The competition between the two young stars has become one of the key storylines of the season, adding extra excitement to the ATP Finals.

The Italian crowd played a major role in lifting Sinner’s spirits throughout the match. Every winner, ace, and well-timed drop shot received loud applause. Sinner acknowledged the support, saying, “Winning the first match is very important in this format. I’m happy to start strong and play in front of such an amazing crowd.” His confidence and composure were evident as he enjoyed the rhythm of the match, smiling between points and engaging with fans.

In the same group, Germany’s Alexander Zverev opened his campaign with a solid 6-3, 7-6(6) win over American Ben Shelton on Sunday. All four players in the Bjorn Borg Group — Sinner, Zverev, Shelton, and Auger-Aliassime — will face each other in a round-robin format, with the top two advancing to the semifinals.

Tuesday’s action will shift to the Jimmy Connors Group, featuring Carlos Alcaraz against last year’s finalist Taylor Fritz, both aiming for their second win. Italian youngster Lorenzo Musetti will also take on Australia’s Alex de Minaur. As the tournament progresses, fans eagerly await potential high-stakes clashes that could decide the year-end rankings.

After the match, Sinner reflected on his performance and his goals for the week. “It was a tough match until 6-5,” he said. “He played aggressive tennis, but I’m happy I managed to stay calm and execute my game plan. Starting with a win in this format is always a big advantage.”

With his first hurdle cleared, Sinner looks ready to make another deep run in Turin and perhaps end 2025 as the world’s top-ranked player — a dream that seems well within reach.