British pair hunt ATP Finals history – will it be their last match together?
Great Britain’s Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski are said to be splitting as a doubles team, but they have an ATP Finals title match to play first.
Great Britain’s Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski are said to be splitting as a doubles team, but they have an ATP Finals title match to play first.
Joe Salisbury moved to within one win of capturing his third Nitto ATP Finals trophy on Saturday when he teamed with Neal Skupski to overcome Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool 6-7(3), 6-3, 10-8.
Cash and Glasspool clinched Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF honours earlier this week following their standout season that featured seven titles. However, they were unable to bookend their year with an appearance in the championship match in Turin, with Salisbury and Skupski edging a dramatic semi-final in one hour and 31 minutes.
Salisbury has now won his past 14 matches at the Nitto ATP Finals, having triumphed in Turin in 2022 and 2023 with Rajeev Ram. The 33-year-old did not qualify for the tournament last year. Skupski is into the final at the season-end event for the first time and he and Salisbury will face Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten in the final on Sunday at 3pm local time (CET).
In a tight clash, little separated the teams in the first set, with just the one break point on offer, leaving a tie-break to decide the opener. Cash and Glasspool played the more proactive tennis in the breaker and struck a few bullet returns to lead.
However, Salisbury and Skupski gained an early break of serve at the start of the second set to swing momentum their way and were rock solid on serve, winning 94 per cent of points on their first delivery in the set. The fifth seeds then edged out a nervy tie-break to reach the final.
Salisbury and Skupski hold a 46-21 record on the season, and are searching for their first title of 2025 together this week. The Brits reached finals at Roland Garros and the US Open.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Defending champion Jannik Sinner plans to savour his last match of the season after overcoming a determined Alex de Minaur in their semi-final at the ATP Finals.
Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten banished some year-old Nitto ATP Finals heartache in style on Saturday afternoon in Turin.
One year on from suffering a semi-final exit on debut at the prestigious season finale, Heliovaara and Patten this time marched to a 6-4, 6-3 last-four victory against Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori. The Finnish-British duo produced a stunning all-around display to overwhelm their Italian opponents and nullify the partisan atmosphere inside Inalpi Arena.
Finals bound 🕺🕺
Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten power into the championship match in Turin, defeating Bolelli/Vavassori 6-4 6-3!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/PcIQxxiNTk
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 15, 2025
“We had to dig deep yesterday, but we were ready for this semi-final,” said Heliovaara. “I think we really enjoyed being out on court. We had more experience, and we just executed exactly what we wanted to do today.”
Patten advancing to the championship match continued Great Britain’s dominance in the doubles competition at this year’s Nitto ATP Finals. He and Heliovaara will on Sunday take on an all-British duo in the championship match: Top seeds and Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF-winning team Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, or Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski.
Heliovaara and Patten converted the only break point of the opening set at 1-1, 30/40 to move ahead in Saturday’s semi-final, while they also decisively broke serve in the third game of the second. Patten, who started the week in Turin by getting engaged to his partner Ellie Stone, served a double fault at 3-2, 40/30 to gift Bolelli and Vavassori a chance to break at Deuce deciding point, but he followed that with a nerveless lefty serve out wide to clinch the game.
That proved to be the final moment of peril for Heliovaara and Patten on serve, and the pair soon closed out for a 76-minute victory in which they finished the match having won 87 per cent (20/23) of points behind first serves, according to Infosys ATP Stats. They now hold a 3-1 Lexus ATP Head2Head series lead over Bolelli and Vavassori, having also prevailed in the two teams’ Australian Open semi-final clash earlier this year.
“Lots of practice. There’s no secret really,” said Patten, when asked about he and Heliovaara’s returning performance. “They are two very good servers. We’ve struggled returning against them in the past. Sometimes you get a bit lucky as well. No secret, just lots of hard work and lots of repetitions, really.”
The 36-year-old Heliovaara and 29-year-old Patten will on Sunday play for their eighth tour-level title as a team, and their second indoor title of the year after they lifted the Rolex Paris Masters title earlier this month.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Great Britain’s Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid lose an epic Wheelchair Masters final as they narrowly fail to win a record fourth title.
After a dramatic round-robin stage at the Nitto ATP Finals, the knockout stage begins Saturday with semi-final action in Turin.
Carlos Alcaraz clinched ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours by going 3-0 in group play, but he needs two more wins to secure a perfect end to a career-best season. His next hurdle will be Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Alexander Zverev in what was a win-or-go-home group finale for both men.
Jannik Sinner needed Alcaraz to stumble in Turin to have a chance to finish the year at No. 1, but his Nitto ATP Finals title defence remains firmly in his own hands. After his own 3-0 group campaign, the Italian home favourite will face Alex de Minaur in the semis.
In doubles action, top seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool take on Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury in an all-British matchup, while Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori meet Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.
[2] Jannik Sinner (ITA) vs. [7] Alex de Minaur (AUS)
While Sinner’s semi-final place was secured after his second victory, De Minaur faced a nervous wait Thursday after his 7-6(3), 6-3 win against Taylor Fritz. Alcaraz’s evening triumph against Musetti ultimately sent the Aussie through; if Musetti won, he would have advanced.
De Minaur’s victory — and Alcaraz’s subsequent favour — was the perfect tonic after the seventh seed’s brutal defeat to Musetti two days prior. The Aussie led 5-3 in the final set but lost the last four games against the home favourite to drop to 0-2 on the week. His win against Fritz was his first victory in two Turin appearances, following his debut last year.
“I have dealt with a fair bit of heartbreak recently, so it was good to finally get a win here in Turin,” De Minaur said after earning his first Top 10 win of the season outside team events. “I have worked really hard so it was good to get some positive feedback or a positive reward for the hard work, so I am very happy with the performance.”
Even Sinner said he was happy for the Aussie, speaking after he wrapped his group campaign Friday with a scrappy 6-3, 7-6(3) win against Ben Shelton: “When you have these kinds of losses, it’s tough. So props to him to come back with an incredible performance against Taylor,” said the Italian. “I have to be very careful [in our match], because he doesn’t have a lot to lose… I have a lot to lose.”
While both players enter the semi-finals on the back of a win, Sinner could find extra motivation in his fresh hunt for World No. 1. The Italian spoke of his excitement to “chase” Alcaraz after the Spaniard dethroned him from the top spot in the PIF ATP Rankings by beating him in the US Open final. Eight weeks later, Sinner regained the top spot — though his stint lasted just a single week.
The 24-year-old may no longer be World No. 1, but he has played like it in Turin. For the second straight year, he advanced through the group stage without losing a set. The defending champion has now won eight consecutive matches and 16 consecutive sets in Turin, having won the 2024 title without dropping a set.
“When you come here and win all three round-robin matches, you have to play at a very high level, which I’ve done,” Sinner said. “Serving very well in important moments has brought me to this point.” The home favourite has saved all eight break points against him in the tournament, seven against Zverev and one against Shelton.
De Minaur broke serve twice in each of his group matches, including against Alcaraz in his opener. Next he will try to break his duck against Sinner by earning his first Lexus ATP Head2Head win in the pair’s 13th match.
Their first meeting came at the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. After three previous matchups this season, including in the Australian Open quarter-finals, the pair will now meet at the Nitto ATP Finals for the second straight year.
<img alt=”Carlos Alcaraz, Felix Auger-Aliassime” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/14/17/28/alcaraz-felix-turin-2025-preview.jpg” style=”width: 100%;” />
[1] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs. [8] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
With his World No. 1 mission already accomplished this week in Turin, Alcaraz can now turn his full attention to his bid for a maiden Nitto ATP Finals title. By reaching the semis, the Spaniard has matched his deepest previous Turin run, from his 2023 debut — though he went 2-1 in group play that year.
While Alcaraz’s place in the knockout rounds was secured before his 6-4, 6-1 win Thursday against Musetti, that matchup carried enormous pressure: If the top seed lost, he would have faced a semi-final showdown against Sinner, with his position atop the PIF ATP Rankings under threat.
“It means the world to me, to be honest. The year-end No. 1 is always a goal,” said Alcaraz, who admitted to feeling nerves in the high-stakes match.
After the round-robin drama and all the intricacies of the battle for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours, the task ahead for Alcaraz is now straightforward: win two knockout matches to claim his ninth tour-level title of the year. His previous high in a season was six in 2023.
The Spaniard will seek his fifth straight Lexus ATP Head2Head win against Auger-Aliassime to earn a spot in his first Turin final. After losing their first three meetings from 2021-22, Alcaraz won all nine sets he played against the Canadian across 2023 (one match) and 2024 (three matches). Their Saturday showdown will be their first encounter this season.
Auger-Aliassime played what effectively amounted to a quarter-final against Zverev on Friday. Making his second Nitto ATP Finals appearance, the Canadian advanced to the semis for the first time with a 6-4, 7-6(4) result — his 50th win of the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. After losing his first three sets of the week — two against Sinner and the opener against Ben Shelton — the 25-year-old rattled off four consecutive sets to extend his stay in Turin.
“This is a high-value tournament for players,” said Auger-Aliassime, who moved up to No. 5 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings with his two wins. Three years after reaching a career high of No. 6 in November 2022, the Canadian will make his Top 5 debut if he matches or betters De Minaur’s result in Turin.
He could rise as high as No. 4 with the title, but his full focus Saturday will be on spoiling the trophy hopes of World No. 1 Alcaraz.
“[The Nitto ATP Finals] is like a grand finale and when you have a look at the list of champions, there have been many No. 1s. You want to be in the final, but I’ll have to go through a great player to do that. I will take my chance if I have it.”
Doubles Action
The first all-British pair to claim Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF honours, Cash and Glasspool booked their semi-final place with a 6-3, 7-5 victory against Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in a win-and-advance showdown Thursday. That victory also ensured there will be an all-British finalist: They will meet countrymen Salisbury and Skupski, winners of the John McEnroe Group and both former No. 1s in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings, for a place in the trophy round. Both pairs are seeking the perfect end to their first full season as a team.
The opposite semi-final will see home favourites Bolelli and Vavassori take on Heliovaara and Patten, who advanced with a 7-6(5), 6-2 victory in their own must-win match against Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic on Friday. Both teams are competing at the Nitto ATP Finals for the second consecutive year, with Heliovaara and Patten reaching the semi-finals last season.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Felix Auger-Aliassime completed a barnstorming group-stage turnaround in style on Friday night at the Nitto ATP Finals, where he surged past Alexander Zverev to book a semi-final spot in Turin.
The Canadian overcame two-time Nitto ATP Finals titlist Zverev 6-4, 7-6(4) in a straight shootout to finish second behind Jannik Sinner in Bjorn Borg Group. Auger-Aliassime lost his first three sets of the week to slip towards an early exit at Inalpi Arena, but after notching a comeback victory against Ben Shelton and then dispatching Zverev, he will enter his semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz full of confidence.
Flying into the semis ✈️@felixtennis will face top seed Alcaraz for a place in the showpiece final!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/SlD8R6CNfA
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 14, 2025
“This is a high-value tournament for players,” said Auger-Aliassime, when asked about the Alcaraz clash. “It’s like a grand finale and when you have a look at the list of champions, there have been many No. 1s. You want to be in the final but I’ll have to go through a great player to do that. I will take my chance if I have it.”
By downing Zverev for his 50th tour-level win of the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Auger-Aliassime became the second Canadian to reach the last four at the Nitto ATP Finals after Milos Raonic in 2016. He also completed a clean sweep against Zverev for 2025, having also prevailed in the pair’s third-round meeting at the US Open, although the German still leads 6-4 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
Against Zverev, Auger-Aliassime withstood pressure from his opponent on serve before striking late in the first set. He saved break points at 30/40 in both the fifth and ninth games and then capitalised on Zverev’s drop of level in the 10th game to clinch the opener: Although the German saved three set points from 4-5, 0/40, Auger-Aliassime produced a stunning cross-court forehand on his fourth opportunity to move ahead.
Watch Felix’s Firework Forehand To Clinch First Set:
In a nerve-wracking encounter, both players struggled for consistency in the second set. Zverev appeared frustrated with his struggles on a court where he lifted the trophy in 2021 and frequently gestured to his team, while Auger-Aliassime was wasteful with his openings on return.
Despite having let slip three break points earlier in the set, however, the Canadian maintained his composure to deliver a rock-solid tie-break showing. From 5/4, he earned consecutive minibreaks via Zverev errors to wrap a two-hour, seven-minute victory.
“It was a great first set. He was getting a few chances but I came up with big serves to save them,” said Auger-Aliassime said, who is up three spots No. 5 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. “The first set was very solid and the start of the second set was, too. I had a lot of chances.
“When that happens you need to focus on the present but you’re aware of missed opportunities, so the match got a little tense from that moment. But I was able to hold serve and in the tie-break it was tight till the end.”
Auger-Aliassime is chasing his fourth ATP Tour trophy of 2025 this week in Turin, having triumphed in Adelaide, Montpellier and Brussels already this season. He has now won a Tour-leading 85 matches indoors this decade, five more than second-placed Sinner on that list.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]The ATP Tour is in the midst of an exciting new era, and Shuzo Matsuoka knows it.
Renowned in his native Japan as a sports commentator, television presenter and motivational speaker, Matsuoka is well-qualified to comment on the current state of tennis: He is a former No. 46 in the PIF ATP Rankings, a one-time ATP Tour champion, and was a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 1995.
Despite having commentated on the Nitto ATP Finals from a studio in Japan on several occasions, Matsuoka is this week visiting the prestigious season finale in person for the first time. The 58-year-old did not hesitate when asked for his opinion on the ATP Tour’s most eye-catching current stars.
“At the moment I like [Carlos] Alcaraz and [Jannik] Sinner,” Matsuoka told ATPTour.com in Turin. “I had an interview with them at the Australian Open and also at the US Open. They were so nice.
“I’ve been coaching juniors for 25 years at the Japan Tennis Association. Kei Nishikori and all those guys. Tennis has completely changed. Alcaraz and Sinner play a new tennis. Also the speaking, the way they act, it’s all new. So I had to change myself, the speaking, the way I act. Tennis is changing, so in Japan we have to start the new generation and new tennis also in Japan too. It’s a mental approach.”
Matsuoka, who finished his playing career with 145 tour-level wins, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, is in Turin to commentate for Japanese broadcaster UNEXT, while he is also filming his own experience at the Nitto ATP Finals.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve been to the event. I was doing the television coverage in Japan, with Kei Nishikori, Novak Djokovic and everyone. I was commentating, but this is my first time coming here and it is completely different. It’s like a show. The players, everybody, make it feel like the Finals.
“I want to introduce how big the Nitto ATP Finals are and how tennis is improving [to people in Japan. Not just watching it. The whole show, the food, the places. Those things I think are very important. I am learning, so I am taking many things from here and will bring them to Japan and use them at the Japan Open to change and make more exciting things for tennis.”
[ATP AWARDS]Matsuoka’s colourful and varied post-playing career also includes motivational speaking. He is known around the world for his short videos that usually involve him delivering encouraging phrases to viewers, while he has also hosted a weekly cooking show, Kuishinbo! Bansai, since 2000. For Matsuoka, any visit to Italy is also a reminder of the social importance of food.
“Eating is a passion and [relates to] how you feel,” he said. “Italy has this feeling in the culture. The food, the water. When they eat, they eat, it is always with family, and that is a very good thing, I think. Not alone. The family and friends are important for tasting too. I have a couple of days here, so I also want to concentrate on eating and restaurants. I just had a pizza here and it is completely different in Japan.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]With his all-action game and on-court charisma, Ben Shelton has established himself as a fans’ favourite around the world on the ATP Tour. Yet it was his turn to stand back and enjoy someone else’s fancy footwork on court earlier this week at the Nitto ATP Finals.
When Shelton stepped out Sunday for his debut at the prestigious season finale against Alexander Zverev, he took the hand of seven-year-old Gioele, one of the participants in this year’s Nitto Mascot Programme. The pair walked across the court in front of a capacity crowd at Inalpi Arena before reaching Shelton’s chair, at which point Gioele promptly performed a series of dance moves, somewhat reminiscent of a player warming up for a match.
“I think regardless of who he walked out with, he was going to hit those dance moves,” said Shelton with a smile, when asked about the walk-on. “It’s cool. I love being able to inspire the next generation. The young kids that you can have an influence on are the fans that I really love to see excited about the tennis.”
Watch: Shelton’s Fun Moment With Nitto Mascot Gioele In Turin:
As in previous years, walk-on mascots like Gioele are escorting players onto court for every singles match at the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals. The children are all from Casa UGI, a Turin-based volunteer organisation that supports children who are battling cancer and their families, doctors, nurses and volunteers. The children participating have either struggled with an illness or have a family member who is dealing with one.
As an elite athlete, Shelton recognises the importance of inspiring children, both with his on-court exploits and with the way he engages with them without a racquet in hand. The 23-year-old cited his fun moment with Gioele as a prime example of the positive experiences sport can bring to younger fans.
“That’s cool to see the fanbase that we have in our sport get younger and younger,” said Shelton. “That was a really special moment, for sure. Anytime I have interaction with kids that are excited at tournaments or practices, wherever it is, it makes me happy.”
Professore Enrico Pira , Presidente UGI – Unione Genitori Italiani contro il tumore dei bambini ODV, said: “Once again this year, thanks to Nitto, our kids were given a priceless experience — a moment of lightness and joy that lifts their spirits, renews their energy, and reminds them that hope can shine even in the hardest moments.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]What better place to celebrate the end of a stellar career than at the Nitto ATP Finals?
Eight recently retired ATP Tour stars did just that on Friday in Turin, where ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi welcomed Juan Sebastian Cabal, Kyle Edmund, Robert Farah, Wesley Koolhof, Matwe Middelkoop, Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Diego Schwartzman with a speech in the players’ lounge at the prestigious season finale.
The former No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings Schwartzman, who played his final match on home soil in Buenos Aires in February, was delighted to be invited back to an event where he competed in 2020.
“It’s amazing to come back to a tournament, especially the ATP Finals and to be able to share it with someone from your family,” Schwartzman told ATPTour.com. “In my case, my mum is here. When I played the [Nitto ATP Finals], she couldn’t come because it was the pandemic and players’ invites were very limited.
“My mum’s a tennis fan, so we’ll enjoy a couple of days watching tennis and I’m getting a nice recognition. It’s fun and a good initiative.”
<img alt=”Diego Schwartzman” style=”width: 100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/14/18/49/schwartzman-nitto-atp-finals-2025-retirement-tribute.jpg” />
Diego Schwartzman (centre) with Fernando Sanchez, Senior Vice President of ATP Player Relations, and ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi. Photo Credit: Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour
The retired players also later participated in an on-court ceremony during Friday’s night session at Inalpi Arena, shortly before the singles clash between Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Among them was Kyle Edmund, the former World No. 14 who won two ATP 250 titles and reached the semi-finals at the 2018 Australian Open before his career was disrupted by a series of injuries.
“I’ve realised that when you play, you don’t think too much about your career, but since retiring you have a lot more time at home, and you can appreciate your career a lot more,” said the 30-year-old Briton. “On Tour, but even on juniors and the journey, it’s nice to reflect.
“It’s good that the ATP reached out and said they wanted to celebrate my career with this ceremony… It’s a really nice touch and you remember these sorts of things. Since I retired, I haven’t been at an event, so it’s nice to come to the Finals. My parents are as well which is nice, because they were with me throughout my career.”
<img alt=”Kyle Edmund” style=”width: 100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/14/19/03/edmund-nitto-atp-finals-2025-retirement.jpg” />
Kyle Edmund with his parents Steven and Denise at Inalpi Arena. Photo Credit: Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour
Former World No. 17 and four-time ATP Tour champion Ramos-Vinolas said: “The event is really amazing, I’m so happy to be here, to receive a small tribute and to come here with my family and spend a few more relaxed days at a tennis tournament.”
Singles stars Schwartzman, Edmund and Ramos-Vinolas were joined in the ceremony by a quintet of elite doubles stars. They included three former No. 1s in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings: Juan Sebastian Cabal, Robert Farah and Wesley Koolhof.
“It’s really amazing, of course, it was a very beautiful ceremony,” said Cabal. “We’ve experienced it as players, with other athletes, and we know that it’s a recognition for what you gave during your career. You look back and you see everything you achieved, and it’s really nice to remember it. And, of course, for them to do it for you at the best tournament of the year is really great.”
Farah said: “Having the recognition here at the ATP Finals makes it even more special. This tournament is always one that we appreciate so much, it gives you that feeling of exclusivity and of quality. It’s really nice for them to do this here and it reminds you of many things you experienced at this tournament. Now we’re back here in a different situation, enjoying it and watching in a much more relaxed way. It’s really fun.”
<img alt=”Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah” style=”width: 100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/14/18/58/cabal-farah-nitto-atp-finals-2025-retirement.jpg” />
Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah on Friday at the Nitto ATP Finals. Photo Credit: Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour
The 2020 Nitto ATP Finals champion Koolhof added: “I think it’s a very nice initiative from the ATP and they do it well. I had my goodbye It’s nice to be back. It’s one of the most prestigious tournaments of the year, so it’s nice to be back here for the fourth year in a row, even though I’m not playing. It’s nice to see all the people again and celebrate what you’ve achieved.”
Koolhof won the first three of his 21 tour-level titles with Middelkoop, who played the last match of his pro career in Umag in July.
“I said I want to have my parents here, because they were there at the start and I wanted to give them opportunity to see me at the end of my tennis career,” said Middelkoop. “It’s an amazing feeling. I’m very proud of what I accomplished, and to be in a group of legends here — which they are — it says a lot.”
[ATP AWARDS]Quereshi made his final tour-level appearance in a Davis Cup tie in Paraguay in September. The Pakistani won 18 tour-level doubles crowns, including two ATP Masters 1000 titles.
“Obviously it’s an amazing feeling [to be here],” said the former Top 10 star, who is one of only four men to win the ATP’s Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award twice. “Growing up as a Pakistani, a young kid, I never thought I would have such a long career to start with. Playing with the top guys, at the top tournaments, and qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals also four times. It’s been amazing, and this is like a full circle.
“My parents are here, my wife, my son and daughter are here. It’s a lot of things to digest but I feel proud in the end as well for having an amazing career. The ATP was like a second family to me. I spent more time in these 25 years with people from the ATP and the staff, the players, the physios, the trainers and the line umpires, than my own family. I’ve had some ups, I’ve had some downs, but overall, I think it was a mutual friendship and trust that I gathered the most.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]