Jannik Sinner successfully defended his ATP Finals title on Sunday, defeating top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in Turin to cap an undefeated run at the year-end championship.
The 23-year-old Italian secured the victory with a 7-6 (4), 7-5 scoreline, marking his second consecutive triumph at the prestigious tournament. He completed both editions of the event without dropping a single set.
Alcaraz, the 22-year-old world No. 1 from Spain, visibly struggled during the match. He received medical assistance in the first set and played the entire second set with a bandage on his right thigh.
Sinner’s win solidifies his position as the world No. 2 at the close of the season. The final, which had been highly anticipated, showcased Sinner’s superior form, power, effectiveness, and tenacity.
Both players had entered the championship match undefeated in the tournament. However, Alcaraz faced a disadvantage in recovery time, having played his semi-final several hours after Sinner on Saturday.
This final was the sixth encounter between Sinner and Alcaraz this year, with all of their previous meetings also occurring in championship matches.
A nearly 12-minute delay interrupted the first set due to a medical emergency in the stands.
In a tightly contested first set, Sinner saved a crucial break point at 6-5. He went on to win the tie-break 7-4 after 1 hour and 19 minutes, notably using two winning lobs.
Sinner started the second set poorly, dropping his serve with two double faults to fall behind 3-1. He quickly recovered, however, capitalizing on errors from a visibly nervous and frustrated Alcaraz to level the score at 3-3.
Sinner then secured the decisive break on Alcaraz’s serve and converted his first match point to seal the second set 7-5.
With this latest win, Sinner now holds 24 career titles, six of which were claimed in 2024. His victory in Turin mirrored his strong start to the season, which began with a title at the Australian Open.
Despite Sinner’s dominant performance at the ATP Finals and his strong finish to the year, Alcaraz will conclude the season as the world No. 1. The Spaniard captured three Grand Slam titles in 2024, winning the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open.