Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner gear up for ATP Finals showdown, World No 1 battle

By SABC Sport
8th November 2025

Carlos Alcaraz has arrived in Turin for the ATP Finals with two major objectives: capturing his first title at the season-ending event and claiming the year-end world No. 1 ranking.

After defeating Jannik Sinner in the US Open final in September, Alcaraz seemed set to finish the year at the top, but Sinner has regained momentum with wins in Vienna and at the Paris Masters last week.

Alcaraz now faces one final chance to secure the No. 1 ranking, with a deep run at the ATP Finals likely enough to achieve that goal.

Speaking ahead of his opening match in Turin, Alcaraz acknowledged the significance of both targets and his determination to compete for them.

"They are two big goals," he said, referencing the No 1 ranking and the ATP Finals title. "I would love to win the tournament someday, and the No 1 title has been a clear objective throughout the season.

"In the end, I think it's turning out to be a good battle between Jannik and me to see who finishes as No 1.

"If he finishes first, it's because he's earned it and has had a magnificent end to the season. He won in Vienna, he's coming off a win in Paris, and if he finishes number one, it's because he would win here and he deserves it.

"I am going to try to fight to prevent that from happening. If it does happen, it wouldn't be a disappointment.

"The season has gone incredibly well. The downside is that it's not over yet, so it's difficult to think about next year's goals with these two important tournaments just around the corner. Before preseason, we'll sit down and see what we can improve."

Alcaraz and Sinner cannot meet in Turin until the semi-finals at the earliest, but they could avoid a meeting until the final if they win their groups.

When asked whether avoiding a clash with Sinner before the final was a target, Alcaraz insisted he was not thinking about that.

"It's a bit early to think about that," he added. "For me, if you want to win the tournament, you have to beat the best. And if I want to win, I'll have to beat Jannik in the semifinals or the final, or another top player in the semifinals or the final. So I don't mind.

"The important thing here is to advance, and if it's by one player, all the better. And if it's by two, we'll have to assess the situation and give our best against whoever we face in those semifinals."