Jannik Sinner defends ATP Finals title with rival Carlos Alcaraz in the hunt

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Jannik Sinner speaking to reporters ahead of the ATP Finals.

EPA

TURIN – Jannik Sinner will begin his bid to retain his ATP Finals title on Sunday and cap a turbulent year which could end with another showdown with his great rival Carlos Alcaraz.

The world No. 1 has won two Grand Slams – the Australian Open and a landmark victory in the Wimbledon final against Alcaraz – since cruising to victory in Turin this time last year.

The duo are almost certain to qualify from their respective Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors groups, and another epic clash between the world’s two best players in either the last four or final of the eight-man tournament is a tantalising prospect.

“If I manage to do it great, if not I’ve still had an incredible season, one with not a lot of tournaments but with a lot of matches played and plenty won,” Sinner said on Friday.

“The first match is really important because usually you don’t play against one of the best eight players in the world, and that’s what makes it different for everyone.”

Sinner’s 2025 has also been dogged by controversy, with a three-month ban chopping out a large chunk of his season despite the World Anti-Doping Agency accepting that the Italian was accidentally contaminated with banned clostebol last year.

His decision to not take part in Italy’s Davis Cup title defence, in Bologna, has brought down hefty criticism from a portion of the country’s media who have never truly warmed to their biggest sports star.

Sinner’s origins in the German-speaking areas of the