The Spaniard dominates in the first, raises the level when it matters in the second and finishes 6-2 6-4. Today he will face Jannik with the ATP Finals title at stake
The final that everyone was waiting for, the sixth of the year: today, at 6pm, the Inalpi Arena will be the scene of the last 2025 act of the challenge between giants, in the setting of the “tournament of the masters”. Carlos Alcaraz against Jannik Sinner, number 1 against number 2 in the world. The best epilogue of a season that marked the definitive entry of tennis into the Big Two era. The duelists shared the Slams (Australian Open and Wimbledon for the Italian, Roland Garros and US Open for the Spanish) and reached the bottom of six of the eight tournaments in which they both participated. Of the five finals already archived, four saw Alcaraz triumph (Rome, Paris, Cincinnati, Flushing Meadows) and one Sinner (London). For the first time it will be played indoors: Jannik’s natural habitat, fresh from 30 consecutive indoor victories, including last year’s Finals. But in recent days, in Turin, Alcaraz has also demonstrated that he knows how to move very well on this once indigestible surface. Yet another proof of maturity – assuming it was still needed for someone who at 22 years old will end the season as number 1 for the second time in his career – came in the semi-final he dominated against Felix Auger-Aliassime, the loose cannon of the tournament: 6-2 6-4 in an hour and 23 minutes.
THE MATCH- In the first set the Canadian, who in August was n.25 in the ranking and will end the year in 5th place, is annihilated by the all-court game of Carlos, galvanized by the best player award given to him yesterday by the ATP. The Spaniard soon made things clear, setting the break for 3-1 with a drop shot completed by a long volley. Auger-Aliassime immediately had the opportunity to return, but he wasted a counterbreak ball by throwing a comfortable forehand into the net. At that point Carlos raises the level and, at 5-2, takes the serve away from his opponent again, at zero. First set secured in 37 minutes and near perfection: the Spaniard’s forehand and backhand get a rating of 9.6 and 9.5 respectively (out of 10) from Tennis Insights. In the second set Felix settles his serve and offers no break points for four rounds. But Alcaraz is also very solid. The difference is made by killer instinct. At 5-4 the Canadian passes through an empty pass making four free errors, the number 1 takes advantage of this to win the break, the decisive one. And, in the immediate declarations on the pitch, the first words he says are in Italian: “I am very happy for today’s match. See you tomorrow” (today, ed.). Winning the roar of the public.
POST RACE Then, in the conference, he defends himself: “Who is the favourite? Jannik plays his best tennis in these conditions. We play in front of his audience, I think he is the favourite. However, today against Felix I felt great. I felt I could do everything on the court. Physically I feel great, and this helps me. I believe I can win. If I thought otherwise I wouldn’t go on the court. I can play better than today”.
the second semi-final
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World number 1 Carlos Alcaraz challenges Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second semifinal of the ATP Finals. Alcaraz has been on a run of 55 wins and 4 losses since the beginning of April and is aiming to reach the tenth final in the last 11 tournaments played, the first in the masters trophy. This year he won titles in Monte Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros, Queen’s Club, Cincinnati, US Open and Tokyo.
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