Sinner Dominates at Home to Begin ATP Finals Title Defence
Turin, Italy — Home favourite Jannik Sinner delivered a clinical performance on Monday night to open his ATP Finals 2025 campaign with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime at a packed Inalpi Arena in Turin.
The win marks a confident start for the defending champion, who continues to thrill his Italian fans while chasing both the season-ending title and the coveted year-end world No. 1 ranking.
This was the pair’s fourth meeting since August — and their second in just over a week — with Sinner once again proving superior in both consistency and composure.
Commanding Start: Sinner Extends Indoor Winning Streak
With this win, the 24-year-old Italian extended his remarkable indoor hardcourt winning streak to 27 consecutive matches, a run that began after his loss to Novak Djokovic in the 2023 ATP Finals final.
Sinner, currently battling Carlos Alcaraz for the world No. 1 spot, must defend his Turin crown to keep his hopes alive in the year-end rankings race. Meanwhile, Alcaraz can secure the top ranking by winning two more matches following his opening-round victory.
Precision and Power Define Sinner’s Game
Sinner set the tone early, winning the first game to love and surrendering only three points on serve throughout the opening set. His mix of pinpoint backhands and ferocious forehand drives down the line left Auger-Aliassime scrambling to keep pace.
The Canadian, despite being visibly hampered by a left calf injury, fought valiantly — firing eight aces to Sinner’s one — and managed to save four break points before the Italian finally broke serve at 6-5 to claim the first set.
“It was a very tough match until 6-5. I had some chances to break earlier,” Sinner said courtside.
“He played very aggressive tennis, so I’m happy to overcome a tough test. Winning the first match is always important in this competition.”
Injury Struggles for Auger-Aliassime
The second set quickly slipped away from the Canadian. Sinner raced to a 3-0 lead, forcing Auger-Aliassime to call for a medical timeout due to discomfort in his left calf.
Though he returned to the court, the momentum had firmly shifted. Sinner continued to press, breaking serve twice more and sealing the victory with a trademark ace — greeted by thunderous applause from the Italian crowd.
“I hope it’s nothing too serious,” Sinner said of his opponent’s injury.
“I wish him a very speedy recovery — hopefully he’ll be back to 100 percent soon.”
Home Crowd Delights as Sinner Plays with Flair
With victory assured, Sinner relaxed and began showcasing the creative flair that has made him one of the most exciting players in modern tennis. He mixed in deft drop shots and delicate volleys, drawing cheers from fans eager to see their national hero on top form in Turin.
The Italian crowd rose to their feet as Sinner closed out the match, reinforcing his status as one of Italy’s brightest sporting icons.
Group Standings and Upcoming Matches
In the other Bjorn Borg Group match on Sunday, Germany’s Alexander Zverev defeated American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(6). Each player in the group will face the others once, with the top two advancing to the semifinals.
Tuesday’s Jimmy Connors Group matches feature:
- Carlos Alcaraz vs Taylor Fritz (both on one win each)
- Lorenzo Musetti vs Alex de Minaur
With Sinner’s commanding start, Italy’s hopes for back-to-back ATP Finals glory remain firmly alive.
What’s Next for Jannik Sinner
Sinner now turns his focus to the next group-stage match, where a victory could all but secure his spot in the semifinals. He’s also looking to capture his sixth title of 2025, further establishing himself as one of the dominant forces in men’s tennis.
With his fitness, confidence, and home support all peaking, Sinner’s quest to become the first Italian to win consecutive ATP Finals titles looks increasingly within reach.
Key Takeaways
- Jannik Sinner defeats Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 6-1 in ATP Finals opener.
- Extends indoor winning streak to 27 matches.
- Begins title defence and battle for world No. 1 ranking.
- Auger-Aliassime injured mid-match, takes medical timeout.
- Sinner plays next in Bjorn Borg Group; Zverev also victorious.
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