Turin, Italy — November 10, 2025. The crowd inside the Pala Alpitour roared as home favorite Jannik Sinner began his ATP Finals title defense with a commanding 7-5, 6-1 victory over Félix Auger-Aliassime. It was a match that reminded everyone why Sinner is among the most feared players on the indoor circuit — calm under pressure, ruthless in execution, and visibly confident in front of his home fans.
From the outset, Auger-Aliassime showed flashes of brilliance, keeping up with Sinner in a tightly contested opening set. But late in the first set, the Canadian began to struggle with a left-calf issue, limiting his movement and altering his rhythm. Sinner, ever the opportunist, took advantage — upping his intensity, dictating rallies, and closing out the first set 7-5 with a blistering forehand winner.
The second set told a different story — one of total Italian dominance. With his opponent visibly hampered, Sinner unleashed his trademark precision from the baseline, firing aces and forehand winners at will. The 24-year-old wrapped up the match in just over 90 minutes, extending his indoor winning streak to 27 matches and sending a clear message to his rivals.
> “It’s always special to play here in Turin,” Sinner said post-match. “The energy from the crowd gives me motivation. I tried to stay focused and play my tennis — I’m happy with how I started.”
The victory not only gives Sinner an early lead in his group but also keeps him firmly in contention for the Year-End World No. 1 ranking, with Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic still lurking in the background.
Auger-Aliassime, despite the setback, praised Sinner’s composure and wished to recover in time for his next match. “He’s been playing incredible tennis,” said the Canadian. “I tried to fight through the pain, but against someone like Jannik, you have to be at 100%.”
As the ATP Finals continue, all eyes will be on Sinner — the young Italian who’s not just defending a title, but defending a legacy.
Next Up: Sinner faces Alexander Zverev in his second round-robin clash, where another victory could secure his semifinal spot and edge him closer to back-to-back ATP Finals glory.
