Jannik Sinner began his title defense at the ATP Finals with a strong performance in front of his home crowd, defeating Félix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 6-1 in Turin, Italy. Sinner, aiming to secure the year-end No. 1 ranking, must win the season-ending tournament and rely on Carlos Alcaraz not reaching the final.
Auger-Aliassime, ranked eighth, struggled with a left calf injury that affected him towards the end of the first set, requiring treatment from a trainer twice during the second set. Sinner acknowledged the challenge of the match, especially after breaking Auger-Aliassime’s serve to claim the first set.
Having won the Turin title last year without dropping a set, Sinner has maintained an unbeaten record at the event since losing in the 2023 final to Novak Djokovic. The crowd showed their support with banners labeling Sinner as “Italian pride,” and chants of “Ole, ole, ole. Sin-ner, Sin-ner” filled the stadium during his post-match interview.
Sinner has dominated Auger-Aliassime this year, winning all four of their encounters, including the U.S. Open semifinal and the recent Paris Masters final. In the Bjorn Borg group, Sinner and Alexander Zverev lead with one victory each, following Zverev’s win over Ben Shelton.
The top two players from each group will advance to the semifinals, setting up a competitive stage for the remaining matches. Sinner showcased his serving prowess, winning 89% of points on his first serve, emphasizing the importance of focus and resilience against strong opponents.
In another match, Taylor Fritz defeated late entry Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-4. Fritz, with previous success in the tournament including a final appearance last year, highlighted the challenge Musetti’s unique playing style presented. Fritz’s experience and preparation on indoor courts proved beneficial in securing the crucial victory.