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Alcaraz & Sinner bring rivalry to a boil at Nitto ATP Finals; Zverev chases hat-trick

After a dramatic season, the 2025 ATP Tour reaches its finale this week at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, where the world’s top eight players will battle for glory in a showdown starting Sunday at Inalpi Arena.

Carlos Alcaraz headlines the field following an exceptional year, but he faces stiff challenges from defending champion Jannik Sinner, who arrives in red-hot form. Two-time former winner Alexander Zverev is eyeing another run at the prestigious trophy and Felix Auger-Aliassime returns for the first time since 2022.

Making their Nitto ATP Finals debuts are Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Musetti, while last year’s finalist Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur are back in action at Inalpi Arena. ATPTour.com looks at the key storylines to follow in Turin.

1) Defending Champ Sinner Returns Home: After winning his maiden Nitto ATP Finals crown last year, Sinner returns to home soil eager to defend his trophy. The 24-year-old Italian enters Turin riding a 26-match indoor winning streak, including consecutive titles in Vienna and Paris — his past two appearances.

Watch Highlights of Sinner’s 2024 Title Match Triumph In Turin:

2) Alcaraz Aims For First Title: With a Tour-leading eight trophies in 2025, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Alcaraz has described this as his ‘best’ season yet. Now, the 22-year-old Spaniard will look to add another milestone to his resume: his first Nitto ATP Finals crown. Alcaraz arrives in Turin seeking redemption after a surprise opening-round defeat to Cameron Norrie in Paris.

3) Year-End No. 1 Battle Reaches Climax: The race for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours between Alcaraz and Sinner comes down to the wire in Turin. Sinner trails Alcaraz by 1,050 points in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and must defend his title to have a shot at finishing year-end No. 1 for the second straight year.

Sinner’s fate depends on how dominant his run is, while Alcaraz can still seal the year-end top spot with a solid showing — especially if the Italian drops matches along the way. Read the full breakdown here.

4) Shelton & Musetti Make Debuts: After a standout season — in which he won his biggest career title at the ATP Masters 1000 in Toronto — Shelton has earned his Nitto ATP Finals debut. He joins Fritz to mark the first time that multiple American men have featured at the season finale since 2006.

Musetti is the second player in the field who will be making their debut. He is the only player this season to reach at least the semi-finals in all three clay ATP Masters 1000 events and Roland Garros, and he backed it up with a maiden quarter-final showing at the US Open.

Shelton competes in Bjorn Borg Group alongside Sinner, Zverev and Auger-Aliassime. Zverev leads Shelton 4-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, with three of those clashes coming this year, including in the Munich final.

5) Zverev Eyes Hat-trick: A mainstay at the event, Zverev is making his eighth appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, having lifted the trophy in 2018 and 2021. The German reached his third major final at the Australian Open and won the ATP 500 crown in Munich. He now targets his third title at the year-end championships to cap another rock-solid season.

who got you smiling like that!!! #NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/aiN2CtffXL

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 8, 2025

6) Fritz, De Minaur, Musetti In Alcaraz’s Group: After defeating Alcaraz at the Laver Cup two months ago, Fritz will be eager to claim another indoor win over the Spaniard in Turin. They both compete in Jimmy Connors Group, which includes De Minaur and Musetti. De Minaur is making his second straight appearance in Turin.

7) Stacked Doubles Field: Top seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool headline the doubles field. They will face fierce competition from Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos, defending champions Kevin Krawietz/Tim Puetz and Simone Bolelli/Andrea Vavassori in Peter Fleming Group.

Meanwhile, Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten can still overtake Cash/Glasspool in the race for Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF honours. They lead John McEnroe Group, which also features Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic, Joe Salisbury/Neal Skupski and Christian Harrison/Evan King.

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Learner Tien: First-Time Winner Spotlight

#NextGenATP star Learner Tien became the ninth first-time winner on the ATP Tour this season with his breakthrough victory on Saturday at the Moselle Open.

The 19-year-old defeated Cameron Norrie in the final and made his Top-30 debut in the PIF ATP Rankings. With the triumph, Tien also became the first American teenager to win a tour-level title since Andy Roddick, 19, in 2002.

The indoor hard-court ATP 250 crown is the latest highlight in what has already been an impressive season for the lefty. After finishing runner-up last year at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, he has earned five wins over Top 10 players this season and reached his maiden tour-level final at the ATP 500 in Beijing, where he lost to Jannik Sinner.

ATPTour.com caught up with Tien to discuss his title run, his journey and more…

What does it mean to win your first ATP tour title?
It’s really special to me. It was a big goal I had coming into the season. It was the last week of the year. I really wanted to make it happen. So, it means a lot.

Who have been the most influential people in helping you reach this moment in your career?
I’ve not had a lot of coaches, but I’ve been fortunate enough to have the coaches I’ve had my whole life. I think everyone’s played their role in me, as a person, in my game. I’m very thankful for everyone that’s helped me. Obviously, my parents. My dad is my first coach. I talked to him right after the match. A lot of people to thank and a lot of people I’m very grateful for.

You’re set to crack the Top 30 for the first time at just 19 years old. What does that accomplishment mean to you?
That’s great, actually. I wasn’t sure what my exact ranking would be after this week. But it was a bonus, honestly, for me to be seeded in Australia. It’s something that I was really not trying to keep in mind during matches and kind of add extra pressure on myself. So, that’s great.

What lessons did you take away from your first ATP Tour final last month against Jannik Sinner?
I think it honestly helped with the nerves a little bit. I obviously felt some nerves today playing for my first title, but I think just being in that setting at that stage of the tournament, I think it helped me a lot with just pre-match jitters and stuff like that.

With your mom being a teacher and your dad a lawyer, what would you have been had you not found tennis and why?
I would probably be a loser. I never really took too much else. So, I guess I’m lucky.

What has it been like to have former World No. 2 Michael Chang come on to your team this year?
I didn’t meet him until I found out that he could potentially become my coach. I never met him before that. But it’s been great. It’s been very special to have him on my team. He’s helped me a lot. The insight he brings, the experience he has. I feel like we’ve clicked pretty well and we’ve been able to work together great.

What is the one lesson or story that stands out for your time with him so far?
Does today count? [I would say] today. Today is the best day of the year.

You initially went to college for a semester before turning pro. How has the journey since then been different from what you expected when you made that decision?
I wouldn’t say I had a whole lot of expectations of what would happen after I left school. I just wanted to be done with school, honestly. So I just felt like I was ready to go out there and just fully dedicate myself to playing tennis. I had a lot of first experiences this year, but I wouldn’t say anything super shocking just because I didn’t have a ton of expectations of what was going to happen.

This is a milestone moment in your career, how will you celebrate this victory?
I don’t know. I have no idea. I’m still taking it in, honestly. I still can’t really believe it. I haven’t actually eaten dinner anywhere outside my hotel room [here in Metz] this whole week. Lunch or dinner. I’ve ordered food to my room, the exact same meal for every single meal this week in my room, so I’ll probably do something different tonight.

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Alcaraz begins No. 1 chase with De Minaur duel in Turin opener

The 2025 Nitto ATP Finals begins Sunday in Turin, where the ATP Tour’s greatest champions will battle it out at the prestigious season finale. Two singles showdowns and a pair of doubles matches open the show on Day 1 in the Inalpi Arena.

Carlos Alcaraz will take on Alex de Minaur in the Jimmy Connors Group, before Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton meet in Sunday’s evening finale to begin play in the Bjorn Borg Group.

A doubles matchup pitting defending champions Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz against Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos will open the day’s action, with top seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool meeting home favourites Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori to start the night session.

[1] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs. [7] Alex de Minaur (AUS)
While Alcaraz enters Turin at No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, behind Jannik Sinner, he earned the top seed through his first-place position in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. By the same token, the Spaniard holds the upper hand in the battle for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours. He must reach the final with at least one round-robin win or sweep his round-robin matches to guarantee himself the award for the second time (2022).

“I think doing good in this tournament, winning matches here, it comes together with ending the year as No. 1,” Alcaraz said of his twin goals in Turin. “It’s kind of the same motivation. They stick together. I think it’s going to be a real big and important week.”

After a shock opening-round defeat to Cameron Norrie in Paris — a result that opened the door for Sinner to reclaim No. 1 — Alcaraz seeks a return to winning ways against De Minaur, who is making his second consecutive Nitto ATP Finals appearance. On paper, it’s a favourable start for the top seed and a nightmare assignment for the Aussie: Alcaraz is a perfect 4-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, with wins this season in Rotterdam and Barcelona.

But De Minaur enters the event with the most hard-court wins of any player this season thanks to his 42-14 record on the surface, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. His 55 overall wins on the year are also a personal record, beating his previous best of 48.

“Overall I’m very pleased with the year I’ve had. I think I’ve shown some really good consistency and I’ve been able to play some good tennis on this surface,” said the Aussie, who is seeking his first Nitto ATP Finals match win in his second Turin appearance.

“Now looking towards the competition ahead, I think we’ve got a very tough group. We’re all very capable of playing some good tennis and making life difficult for each other.”

One of the game’s great retrievers, De Minaur knows he can’t rely solely on his speed and defensive skills to pull off the upset. To have a puncher’s chance, the Aussie will need to land the first blow often against the Spanish superstar, who has played just one tour-level match since the start of October. 

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Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz round out the Jimmy Connors Group, with the rivals set to compete on Monday.

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[3] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. [5] Ben Shelton (USA)
Only one man has beaten Zverev since mid-October, and it’s a man the German will face later in the group stage: Sinner, the same player who beat Shelton in his most recent match. With the Italian lurking, the Turin opener between two-time Nitto ATP Finals champ Zverev (2018, 2021) and Turin debutant Shelton carries heightened significance for both competitors.

Like Alcaraz vs. De Minaur, the Lexus ATP Head2Head series between Zverev and Shelton stands at 4-0 for the higher-ranked player. Shelton has not won a set in their three meetings this season, one on each of the ATP Tour’s three surfaces.

Zverev’s confidence will be further boosted by deep runs in his past two tournaments, a runner-up finish in Vienna and a semi-final showing in Paris. Each of those runs included a clutch win via a third-set tie-break, against Jacob Fearnley and Daniil Medvedev.

Shelton reached the Paris quarter-finals in his most recent outing before eventual champ Sinner ended his run. There were concerns the American’s season would come to an early end after he retired at the US Open with a left-shoulder injury, but the 23-year-old played three tournaments in October and showed signs of his best tennis. Before his defeat to Sinner in Paris, Shelton clinched his Turin debut with a 7-6(6), 6-3 win against Andrey Rublev, who competed at the Nitto ATP Finals each of the past five years.

Shelton will hope to cap his Turin debut this week with another first: Parallel to the Sinner-Alcaraz battle for World No. 1 in Turin will be the Shelton-Fritz fight for American No. 1, an honour Shelton briefly wrestled from his countryman in 2024. The lefty has never finished a season as the top American in the PIF ATP Rankings.

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Felix Auger-Aliassime or Lorenzo Musetti will complete the Bjorn Borg Group. If Musetti wins the Athens title on Saturday, he will claim the eighth and final Turin place; if the Italian loses to Djokovic in the final, Auger-Aliassime will qualify.

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Doubles Action
The Peter Fleming Group will kick off the doubles action in Turin. Defending champions Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz have the honour of opening the 2025 event with their matchup against third seeds Granollers and Zeballos, champions this season at Roland Garros and the US Open.

British top seeds Cash and Glasspool, seeking to add to their Tour-leading seven titles this season (including Wimbledon), meet home favourites Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori. The Italians, who won four titles this year and reached the Australian Open final, are competing in Turin for the second straight year.

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Musetti to compete in Nitto ATP Finals following Djokovic's withdrawal

Lorenzo Musetti will compete in the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time following Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal due to a shoulder injury.

Musetti will replace Djokovic in the Jimmy Connors Group as a direct acceptance. Alexander Bublik is now the first alternate.

It has been the best season of Musetti’s career, with the 23-year-old reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Monte-Carlo. He then advanced to the semi-finals at Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros to entrench himself in Turin contention.

After making the US Open quarter-finals, Musetti also made the Chengdu final, Vienna semi-finals and the Athens final.

This is the first time two Italian singles players have qualified for the same edition of the Nitto ATP Finals. In 2021, Matteo Berrettini qualified and withdrew during round-robin play, allowing Sinner to enter the field as an alternate.

Djokovic this year tied the record for most Nitto ATP Finals qualifications, joining Roger Federer with 18.

“I was really looking forward to competing in Turin and giving my best but after today’s final in Athens, I’m sad to share that I need to withdraw due to an ongoing injury,” Djokovic wrote on social media. “I’m truly sorry to the fans who were hoping to see me play — your support means so much. I wish all the players an amazing tournament, and I can’t wait to be back on the court with you all soon!”

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Djokovic out of ATP Finals after winning 101st title

Novak Djokovic secures the 101st title of his career with victory at the Hellenic Championships – then has to withdraw from the ATP Finals because of injury.

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Rybakina upsets Sabalenka to claim record £4m prize

Elena Rybakina upsets world number one Aryna Sabalenka to win record-breaking £4m prize with WTA Finals victory.

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Tien finds late surge to capture maiden ATP Tour title in Metz

Learner Tien won his maiden ATP Tour title after a spectacular finish on Saturday at the Moselle Open in Metz, where he overcame Cameron Norrie 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(6).

The 19-year-old American trailed 1/5 in the deciding-set tie-break, but he swung freely to turn the match on its head and clinch the biggest win of his fledgling career. Tien, who is set to make his debut inside the Top 30 of the PIF ATP Rankings, became the first American teenager to win an ATP Tour title since Andy Roddick, 19, in 2002.

First ATP title: UNLOCKED 🔓

Learner Tien tops Norrie 6-3 3-6 7-6 in a thrilling encounter in Metz! 🏆@MoselleOpen | #MoselleOpen pic.twitter.com/MFuDciGLh8

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 8, 2025

“I never take it for granted, just coming out here and competing. So, holding this trophy just means the world to me. And I’m just really grateful,” Tien said during the trophy ceremony. “I want to thank my team, the ones that are here, the ones that are at home, for all the support, for everything this whole year and always, it means the world to me.

“I always feel the love and support, wherever you guys are. I’m really grateful for each and every one of you. The success I’ve had really is impossible without all of you, so thank you.”

Norrie, who fell in the Metz final in 2024, seemed poised to avenge last year’s heartbreak, but ultimately fell just short. He will close the season with a 34-26 record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

Following his runner-up finish at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF last year, Tien has burst onto the scene in 2025. The lefty has claimed five wins over Top 10 players this year and reached his first tour-level final at the ATP 500 in Beijing, where he fell to Jannik Sinner. Three tournaments later, the 19-year-old is an ATP Tour champion.

Former World No. 2 Michael Chang joined Tien’s coaching team in August and was present courtside in Metz to celebrate his thrilling deciding-set win over Norrie, against whom he improved to 3-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

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Djokovic wins 101st title in Athens after three-hour thriller vs. Musetti

Novak Djokovic captured his 101st career title in dramatic fashion on Saturday at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship in Athens, where he overcame Lorenzo Musetti in an absorbing three-hour clash.

The 38-year-old Serbian left it all on the court in a gutsy 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory in the final, which featured 13 break points and five breaks of serve in the deciding set alone. With his 72nd tour-level title on hard courts, Djokovic also cut his tie with Roger Federer for the most in the Open Era.

Lesson 101: How to Conquer Olympus 🏛️@DjokerNole defeats Musetti in Athens for his 101st tour-level title! 🤯#HellenicChampionship pic.twitter.com/wYDdXo6Lvd

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 8, 2025

“An incredible battle… Three hours of a gruelling match, physically,” Djokovic said after his three-hour win. “It could have been anybody’s match, so congrats to Lorenzo for an amazing performance. I’m just very proud of myself to get through this one.”

Musetti needed to capture the title to leapfrog Felix Auger-Aliassime into the final qualification spot for the Nitto ATP Finals. However, after the Serbian withdrew later on Saturday, Musetti will replace Djokovic and therefore compete at the season finale for the first time.

Both players were pushed to their physical limits across the match, but particularly during the final set. For Musetti, it was heartbreak as he fell to his sixth consecutive defeat in an ATP Tour final. He captured his first two titles back in 2022 in Hamburg and Naples.

“Novak, there are not many words to say about you and your career,” said Musetti, who now trails Djokovic 1-9 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. “You are proving, still at your age, that you can kick us, like me today. Everytime I share the court with you, I take it as a lesson, so thanks for that.”

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Cincinnati, Doha, Bastad named 2025 ATP Tournaments of the Year

The Cincinnati Open, the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha and the Nordea Open in Bastad were named Tournaments of the Year in their respective categories for the 2025 ATP Awards based on the results of player surveys.

The Cincinnati event was named the ATP Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year for the first time after completing a $260 million transformation at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Doha received an upgrade of its own, becoming an ATP 500 event this season and leading the voting at that level, while the seaside Bastad event was named the ATP 250 Tournament of the Year for the 13th time.

The Cincinnati Open lived up to the considerable hype after doubling its footprint to more than 40 acres, turning its grounds into an unforgettable campus that blends elite tennis with the atmosphere of an amusement park. The $260 million investment was made collectively with the City of Mason, Warren County and the State of Ohio.

In its 126th year, the event welcomed more players than ever — 96 in the singles main draw and 32 in doubles — as it expanded to 12 days, while also creating one of the most fan-friendly environments on Tour.

“We are incredibly honored to be named ATP Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year for the first time in our history,” said tournament director Bob Moran. “This recognition is a reflection of the vision and commitment of Ben and Kelly Navarro, who set out to create a best-in-class experience not just for fans, but for the players who make this sport so special. This award is a true team achievement, and we’re grateful to the ATP and the players for recognizing that effort.”

Carlos Alcaraz captured this year’s Cincinnati men’s singles title, while Rajeev Ram and Nikola Mektic claimed the doubles crown at the August event.

The Qatar ExxonMobil Open, a six-time honouree in the ATP 250 category, raised its exceptional standards in tournament organisation, player services and hospitality to mark its elevation to the ATP 500 level with Tournament of the Year honours.

The February tournament’s upgrade further strengthened its global standing — attracting an elite player field that included Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic — and enhanced its impact within the region and beyond.

“We are truly honoured to receive this award for best tournament in the ATP 500 category,” said tournament director Karim Alami. “This recognition reflects the passion, dedication and teamwork that define our event. From our incredible players and loyal fans to our committed sponsors and staff, everyone contributed to creating a world-class experience both on and off the court.

“This award inspires us to continue raising the bar and delivering an unforgettable tournament for years to come.”

Andrey Rublev won the Doha men’s singles title and the event’s coveted “Golden Falcon” trophy, beating Jack Draper in a three-set final. Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool won an all-British doubles final against Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski.

The Nordea Open, voted ATP 250 Tournament of the Year for 11 consecutive years from 2002-12, has now won the award in two of the past three seasons. The Swedish event, one of the most scenic on the ATP Tour calendar, also topped the voting in 2023, when it celebrated its 75th anniversary.

“This is great news and we are of course happy and thankful. Our ambition is always to give the best services and hospitality to all our guests; players, partners and spectators,” said CEO & Managing Director Christer Hult. “This is confirmation that the team is doing a great job and it inspires us to continue developing the tournament even more. A big thanks to the players, our organisation and the ATP support team.”

Sixth-seeded Italian Luciano Darderi won this year’s Bastad singles title in July, while doubles top seeds Guido Andreozzi and Sander Arends won the doubles final in a Match Tie-break.

This year, the ATP is unveiling changes to the ATP Awards, designed to enhance the prestige and excitement of the season’s most celebrated honours.

For the first time, members of the exclusive ATP No. 1 Club – the 29 current and former players to have reached World No. 1 – will decide the winners of Breakthrough of the Year and the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award.

The new Breakthrough of the Year category goes to the player who made the biggest breakthrough on the ATP Tour this season, with consideration given to milestone wins, significant jumps in the PIF ATP Rankings and first ATP Tour titles. Whilst there are no age restrictions, the Award is aimed at Next Gen and young players.

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Cabral & Miedler end strong 2025 season with Athens crown

Francisco Cabral and Lucas Miedler capped their 2025 season in style on Saturday at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship, where they won their third ATP Tour title of the year.

The second seeds rallied past Santiago Gonzalez and David Pel 4-6, 6-3, 10-3 in the final, during which they won 16 of 17 first-serve points in the second set, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Cabral and Miedler partnered for the first time in April this year before lifting trophies in Gstaad, Hangzhou, and now Athens to close out the season on a high note.

“It’s unbelievable. It was the perfect way to wrap up a great season,” said Cabral. “We started in April and we [just] missed the Nitto ATP Finals. It’s bittersweet, but overall we’re very happy with the year we did.”

Following their run in the Greek capital, both men are at career highs in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Rankings. Cabral is No. 20, while Miedler is at No. 23. As a team, they occupy the 11th spot in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings, three places shy of the qualification spots for the prestigious season finale in Turin.

Halys/Herbert triumph on home soil in Metz
Quentin Halys and Pierre-Hugues Herbert rose to the occasion in front of their home fans on Saturday at the Moselle Open in Metz.

The Frenchmen upset third seeds Guido Andreozzi and Manuel Guinard 7-5, 6-3 in the championship match to capture their first team title in just their second tournament together. With their triumph, Halys and Herbert became the first French pair to lift the Metz trophy since Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in 2018.

Halys and Herbert’s run at the indoor hard-court ATP 250 was anything but straightforward. They rallied from a set down to defeat fourth seeds Fernando Romboli and John-Patrick Smith in the first round and then saved two match points to sink second seeds and defending champions Sander Arends and Luke Johnson in the semi-finals.

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