Sabalenka roars past Gauff to join Pegula in WTA Finals last four
Aryna Sabalenka roars past Coco Gauff to avenge her French Open final loss and secure her place in the WTA Finals last four alongside Jessica Pegula.
Aryna Sabalenka roars past Coco Gauff to avenge her French Open final loss and secure her place in the WTA Finals last four alongside Jessica Pegula.
Novak Djokovic captured his 200th indoor win of his career on Thursday at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship, where he moved past Nuno Borges 7-6(1), 6-4 to reach the semi-finals in Athens.
The Serbian missed three break-point chances in the opening set but raised his level when it mattered, dominating the tie-break. After racing to a 6–1 lead, he energised the crowd by running courtside to high-five fans before closing out the set to take the lead.
The former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings carried that momentum into the second set, delivering a composed and commanding performance to secure victory in one hour and 44 minutes in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.
“It was a very physical battle. I thought Nuno played a high level,” Djokovic said. “I was a bit surprised with how good he played. I think we went toe to toe, most of the match. Just a few points decided the winner tonight and he deserves a round of applause for his performance.
“I played a great tie-break in the first set. Not too many opportunities for both of us to break the serve of the other guy. That game was the only game I was able to break him.”
Djokovic is chasing his 101st tour-level title this week, having become just the third man to win 100 trophies when he triumphed in Geneva earlier this year. Jimmy Connors leads the way with 109 crowns, with Roger Federer second on 103.
Djokovic defeated Alejandro Tabilo in his opening match in Athens to score his first victory against the Chilean in his third attempt. The 38-year-old Serbian has been rock-solid through his opening two matches and is in good shape ahead of the upcoming Nitto ATP Finals, which begin on Sunday.
The record seven-time year-end champ Djokovic has been drawn in the Jimmy Connors group alongside Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur.
For now, his focus will remain at the ATP 250 event in Athens, where he will play Marcos Giron or Yannick Hanfmann in his 199th tour-level semi-final on Friday. Djokovic is now 29-0 after winning the first set in 2025, according to ATP Infosys Stats.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Britain’s Cameron Norrie wins a third successive three-set match to reach the Moselle Open semi-finals.
From jaw-dropping defence to highlight-reel winners, Nuno Borges, Cameron Norrie, Casper Ruud, and Botic van de Zandschulp lit up the courts to earn nominations for Hot Shot of the Month.
In Shanghai, Borges stuck a behind-the-body scorcher when scrambling to the baseline. Over in Paris, Norrie unleashed an outrageous passing shot on his way to stunning Carlos Alcaraz. Ruud demonstrated incredible defence in Stockholm, where he won the title and Van de Zandschulp hit a staggering skyhook smash in Basel to raise the roof.
Watch the hot shots below, then head to the voting page to cast your vote for your favourite before 12 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CET) on 11 November.
Cameron Norrie overcame a stern test from home hope Kyrian Jacquet at the Moselle Open on Thursday. A finalist last year in Metz, Norrie rallied past the lucky loser 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 to reach his second semi-final of the season.
The only seed remaining at the ATP 250, Norrie won the final 11 points of the two-hour, 25-minute match to advance.
“He surprised me a lot,” Norrie said of Jacquet, the third Frenchman whom the lefty has beaten this week. “He was mixing it up really well. A lot of slicing, then really aggressive at moments. His serve is really, really good.
“The French have so many good players, so many different kinds of players. I really liked the way he competed and he could have easily won the match in the second set as well, but I managed to stay tough.”
Jacquet crushed 48 winners, half of which came from his forehand, to Norrie’s 28, but the 30-year-old Briton found his best tennis when he needed it most to earn his place in the last four. He will next meet Lorenzo Sonego after the Italian beat Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 7-6(6). Sonego has fond memories in Metz, having clinched the crown in 2022.
Norrie is aiming for his sixth tour-level title and first since 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, where he beat Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
In other quarter-final action, #NextGenATP star Learner Tien rallied past Matteo Berrettini 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 44 minutes to advance to his second tour-level semi-final.
In his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Berrettini, the 19-year-old converted all three break points he earned, according to Infosys ATP Stats. With the win, Tien became the youngest American man to record 30 victories in a season since Andy Roddick in 2002 and the fourth American to reach that mark this year. He is up four spots to No. 34 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
Tien will face lucky loser Vitaliy Sachko for a place in the final. Sachko defeated Clement Tabur 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to book his semi-final spot.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team explains how the ATP Tour Finals work, who is playing, the prize money and the past winners
Defending champion Jannik Sinner and top seed Carlos Alcaraz learned their Nitto ATP Finals draw fate Thursday afternoon in Turin.
Sinner headlines Bjorn Borg Group, which will also feature Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton and Felix Auger-Aliassime or Lorenzo Musetti (8). If Musetti wins the Athens title this week, he will qualify and be the eighth seed. Otherwise, Auger-Aliassime will be the eighth seed.
Sinner made the final for the first time in 2023 and last year produced a flawless performance at Inalpi Arena, claiming the trophy as undefeated champion.
Alcaraz tops the Jimmy Connors group alongside Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur.
<img alt=”Carlos Alcaraz/Novak Djokovic/Taylor Fritz/Alex de Minaur” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/06/13/05/connors-group-nitto-atp-finals.jpg” />
Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur are in the Jimmy Connors group.
Alcaraz is trying to win the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. The Spaniard qualified for the year-end championships for the first time in 2022 and has competed in each of the past two seasons, making the semi-finals in 2023.
Three of the eight singles competitors have lifted the trophy before. Djokovic is a record seven-time champion, Zverev claimed glory in 2018, and 2021, and Sinner emerged victorious last year.
SINGLES
Jimmy Connors Group: Carlos Alcaraz (1), Novak Djokovic (4), Taylor Fritz (6), Alex de Minaur (7)
Bjorn Borg Group: Jannik Sinner (2), Alexander Zverev (3), Ben Shelton (5), Felix Auger-Aliassime or Lorenzo Musetti (8)
The doubles draw was also revealed Thursday. Top seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool headline Peter Fleming Group with Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz and Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori (7)
Second seeds Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten top the John McEnroe Group with Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski and Christian Harrison and Evan King.
Krawietz and Puetz are the defending champions at the event. Cash/Glasspool, Salisbury/Skupski and Harrison/King are making their team debuts.
DOUBLES
Peter Fleming Group: Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool (1), Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos (3), Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz (6), Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori (7)
John McEnroe Group: Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten (2), Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic (4), Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski(5), Christian Harrison and Evan King (8)
The action takes place at Inalpi Arena from 9-16 November.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]The ATP and Spotify are teaming up on a global content collaboration focused on fan engagement and on-platform programming. The initiative aims to inspire and engage the next generation of fans through compelling content, and behind-the-scenes access.
As part of this collaboration, the ATP will team up with Spotify to distribute original tennis programming that brings fans closer to the sport. The collaboration kicks off ahead of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, the ATP Tour’s season-ending championship, with episodic content on Spotify and continues through the 2026 season. One of the first projects will be a behind-the-scenes documentary on the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals, set to debut in December.
The initiative will feature a range of on-platform content celebrating the intersection of tennis and culture within the ATP ecosystem – spotlighting athletes, tournaments, and moments that showcase the energy and personality of the game.
With sports video content consumption up more than 250% on Spotify and overall video consumption rising 80% since early 2025, fans are increasingly turning to the platform for new ways to experience sports. Tennis, with its global audience, iconic athletes, and world-class events, offers a powerful space for storytelling, entertainment, and fan engagement.
“Spotify is a best-in-class platform with a passionate, global audience, and we’re thrilled to bring ATP storytelling to life through this collaboration,” said Andrew Walker, Senior Vice President of Brand and Marketing, ATP Tour. “This partnership enables us to create new content experiences that resonate with fans, showcase our athletes in fresh ways, and invite new audiences into the sport.”
“Fans today want to connect with the moments and personalities that define sport,” said Roman Wasenmüller, VP, Head of Podcasts at Spotify. “Teaming up with the ATP is about giving fans deeper access to the stories and energy that make tennis one of the world’s most compelling sports.”
This collaboration builds on ongoing innovation in ATP’s digital and content strategy, including recent global collaborations with TikTok, Overtime, and the launch of the ‘It All Adds Up’ brand campaign, developed with global creative agency Wieden+Kennedy, along with the launch of the ATP’s new logo and brand identity.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Carlos Alcaraz held his first practice session inside Inalpi Arena on Wednesday, beginning his on-site preparation for the Nitto ATP Finals. Alcaraz hit with fellow Turin competitor Taylor Fritz in an evening training session.
The Spaniard is aiming for his maiden Nitto ATP Finals trophy and seeking to finish the season as ATP Year-End No.1 presented by PIF. Boasting a season-leading 67 match wins, Alcaraz has added eight titles to his trophy cabinet this year.
<img alt=”Carlos Alcaraz with his team at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Italy.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/05/21/09/alcaraz-nitto-atp-finals-2025-wednesday-practice-team.jpg” />
Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton have also arrived in Turin, each holding a practice inside Inalpi Arena on Wednesday. Defending champion Jannik Sinner and Alex de Minaur were among those to hit at Stampa Sporting, the nearby practice venue.
Shelton is making his debut at the prestigious year-end event. The 23-year-old American won his biggest career title in August at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Canada and climbed to a career-high No. 6. He also reached his second major semi-final at the Australian Open.
Zverev is a two-time champion at the Nitto ATP Finals, having lifted the trophy in 2018 and 2021. The German reached his third major final in Melbourne and earned his 24th tour-level title in Munich in April.
<img alt=”Ben Shelton practises ahead of the Nitto ATP Finals.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/05/21/12/shelton-nitto-atp-finals-2025-wednesday-practice.jpg” />
<img alt=”Alexander Zverev at the Nitto ATP Finals.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/05/21/12/zverev-nitto-atp-finals-2025-wednesday-practice.jpg” />
All photo credits: Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour
Lorenzo Musetti’s hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals hung by a thread on Wednesday, but the Italian rose to the occasion to continue his quest for a Turin debut.
The 23-year-old overcame former No. 3 Stan Wawrinka 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 to advance to the quarter-finals at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship. The second seed must win the ATP 250 title to qualify for the season finale.
“I think everybody knows what’s next in my mind, it’s not easy to play with that in my mind,” said a relieved Musetti in his on-court interview. “But of course, if I want to qualify for [Turin], I have to lift the trophy here.”
In a clash between two of the most picturesque one-handed backhands, Musetti was two points from defeat at 4/5 in the second-set tie-break. However, the Swiss then committed two unforced errors, giving Musetti a set point, which he clinched with a booming forehand winner. Musetti played with newfound ease in the decider, swinging freely and moving forward while testing the 40-year-old’s physical limits throughout the two-hour, 25-minute battle.
“He was not struggling physically at his age, so hopefully when I’m 40, I will do the same,” Musetti said with a laugh. “A really, really big effort from Stan, but of course I’m really happy with the win.
“I want to say thanks for sharing a court with a legend, an inspiration since I was a kid, so a big applause to Stan who showed some impressive tennis today. I had to raise the level to win this match, especially in the third set. “
Up next for Musetti is fifth-seeded Frenchman Alexandre Muller. Musetti will seek revenge on Muller, who beat the Italian in 2023 in Marrakech. Muller has saved a match point in his first two matches, with his latest win being a 6-7(2), 7-6(4), 7-6(3) victory against Tomas Martin Etcheverry. The Argentine held a match point on return at 6-5 in the second set.
Earlier, Miomir Kecmanovic downed third seed Luciano Darderi 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Into his fourth quarter-final of the year, Kecmanovic leads the Italian 3-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, with all four meetings coming in 2025. Kecmanovic is seeking his second title of the season after winning in Delray Beach. He will next meet American Sebastian Korda.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]