Tennis News

Korda passes Popyrin test in Athens, Tabilo earns chance at third win against Djokovic

Sebastian Korda is not ready for his first trip to Greece to end.

Despite losing his opening set of the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship against Alexei Popyrin Sunday evening, the American rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.

“It was up and down, but overall I think I improved my level in the second set,” Korda said. “He was serving great. In the first set he had eight aces, so I was just trying to put it back in the court and try to take my chances whenever I could. But [it is] always very difficult with him, he’s got an incredible serve and is very aggressive.”

It was the pair’s second Lexus ATPHead2Head meeting in the past month, with Korda also defeating Popyrin in three sets in Stockholm. In Athens, Korda defended his second serve much better than his opponent, winning 66 per cent of those points compared to 45 per cent for Popyrin according to Infosys ATP Stats.

The 25-year-old hopes to keep the good times rolling in a city he has enjoyed.

“It’s been amazing, walking around a little bit, enjoying the great food that they have here and just really enjoying it,” Korda said.

In other action, Alejandro Tabilo set an interesting match against top seed Novak Djokovic with a 706(7), 6-7(6), 7-5 triumph against Adam Walton in three hours and three minutes. Tabilo leads Djokovic 2-0 in their rivalry.

“It’s amazing. I went to see it yesterday and it’s huge,” Tabilo said of the centre court in Athens, where he will likely take on the Serbian. “I’ve played thankfully now at the US Open in Arthur Ashe [Stadium], kind of feel like that atmosphere. I’m just really excited to play, even with Djokovic there, it’s just going to be crazy.”

Sixth seed Nuno Borges also advanced with a 7-6(4), 6-3 win against Greek wild card Stefanos Sakellaridis.

Cazaux, Gaston advance in Metz
Four Frenchmen were in action Sunday at the Moselle Open in Metz, where Arthur Cazaux and Hugo Gaston moved into the second round.

Cazaux eliminated tricky lefty Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 7-6(4) and Gaston ousted Terence Atmane 6-4, 6-1. 

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Imperious Sinner triumphs in Paris to regain world number one ranking

Jannik Sinner beats Felix Auger-Aliassime to win his first Paris Masters title and reclaim the world number one ranking from rival Carlos Alcaraz.

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Auger-Aliassime sees progress despite Sinner defeat: 'It's not a huge gap between us'

Felix Auger-Aliassime’s inspired run at the Rolex Paris Masters ended one step shy of glory on Sunday, when he fell 6-4, 7-6(4) to Jannik Sinner in the final. It was a match defined by slim margins — a few loose points, a few blistering serves from his opponent — but also by the re-emergance of the Canadian as a serious contender on the biggest stages.

Despite defeat, Auger-Aliassime leaves the French capital with a major consolation: His surge to the final has lifted him into eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, strengthening his bid for a second appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals. The 25-year-old has a 160-point lead over ninth-placed Lorenzo Musetti, who will compete at the ATP 250 in Athens.

“It was difficult on the court having to sit there rethinking a few points,” Auger-Aliassime said after their one-hour, 52-minute final. “Having to just accept that the match is over and that once — as long as I’m in the match, even match point down, you feel you have a chance to come back, you have belief.

“But when it’s over, you just have to accept that. I wish I had a better start, I wish I didn’t make those mistakes to start the match with, I can’t give him that at the level he plays. I wish I would have been able to find a way to put more pressure on his serve. But he was serving great, coming up with great serves every time. I have to move on and focus on the positives.”

If the final sting was sharp, the broader picture was bright. Auger-Aliassime’s run through the draw — which included comeback wins in his opening three matches — featured confident, attacking tennis and a renewed sense of belief.

“I had a really fun week, good week, great tennis, obviously with high stakes and high pressure, coming up with a good level when I needed to,” said Auger-Aliassime. “I can thank the crowd as well. All the way through they were supporting me. Even today you felt that. They wanted a third set, they wanted more tennis, as I wanted. They were great all week.”

Auger-Aliassime boasts a Tour-leading 82 indoor wins this decade, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Seven of his eight ATP Tour titles have come in these conditions, including this year in Marseille and Brussels.

Against Sinner in his second ATP Masters 1000 final, the loss wasn’t about gulf in class but more about fractions in execution.

“For me, it’s not a huge gap. I’m getting closer every match we play against each other,” said Auger-Aliassime, who trails Sinner 2-3 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. “This match was more tight. At the US Open, I managed to win a set and lost the first and the fourth in a difficult way.

“But what we saw today was that it was close. Everything was on the quality of his serve, the quality of his return game. Hats off to him on that point. There’s a part of me that says ‘There are moments where I could play better’. I’m still a bit sour for some moments of the match.”

Auger-Aliassime was quick to acknowledge the quality of Sinner, who reclaimed the World No. 1 spot with his win. The 24-year-old Italian dropped just four of 44 first-serve points across the match en route to his 23rd tour-level title.

The loss may have stung, but Auger-Aliassime leaves Paris with renewed purpose and in a strong position to qualify for the prestigious season finale. He made his debut in Turin in 2022, when he scored a victory against Rafael Nadal.

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Sinner reacts to returning to No. 1 following Paris title

Jannik Sinner will return to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday after he won his fifth ATP Masters 1000 crown at the in Paris on Sunday. The Italian reflected on his return to the top following his fifth title of the year.

“I’m of course happy. I knew from the beginning of the week that there was this chance. But as I said, before the final, before every tournament or before every match, I try to put the best performance I can on the court, and then whatever comes, comes,” Sinner said. “And this is how I went on court. In Turin, I’m going to do the same. I watch my side and I just play the best possible tennis I can.

“The goal of this week was to go day by day, trying to maximise my potential, which I have done for this week and I’m extremely happy.”

Sinner will spend his 66th week at No. 1 from Monday but will drop to No. 2 on 10 November, when Carlos Alcaraz will return to top spot.

Sinner was dominant throughout his run to the title at the Rolex Paris Masters. He became the first player to win a trophy at this level without dropping a set since Alcaraz in Indian Wells in 2023 and also extended his indoor winning streak to 26 matches.

Sinner has continued to add new elements to his game since his US Open final defeat in September to the Spaniard and opened up on that process following his 23rd tour-level title.

“I really try to go over or out of my comfort zone at times, especially in practice sessions, to understand what can potentially give me something in the future,” Sinner said. “In the actual matches, you have to have a good balance of I’m trying, but also winning.

“It’s not like you try all the time or you only play just to win every point. And this is what I meant two days ago with playing with the scoreboard. If you are a break up, trying to do something or something different, trying to be a bit more aggressive at times and all this is part of the process what I am going through.”

Sinner will next compete at the Nitto ATP Finals on home soil in Turin but is determined to celebrate his Paris title first.

“I am very happy to share this moment with my team, with my people who I have around. We know how much work we put in, how much effort, and when you have these kind of results, we are all very, very happy,” said Sinner, who was joined by Darren Cahill in Paris.

“The season is not over yet, so it doesn’t mean that you don’t enjoy these moments, because it doesn’t matter how big the title is. It’s an amazing feeling having this with us now. But also relieved. After a week like this, it has been very intense, so I’m extremely happy. I will take a couple of days off. It’s very important now for the body but also for the mind. Then of course we try to prepare ourselves for the best possible way then in Turin.”

Sinner is 53-4 on the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index and now leads Auger-Aliassime 3-2 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

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Sinner claws closer to Alcaraz in Big Titles chase with Paris triumph

Jannik Sinner clawed closer to Carlos Alcaraz in their Big Titles battle on Sunday when he won the Rolex Paris Masters title.

The Italian defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime for the trophy to claim his first ATP Masters 1000 crown of the season. He now owns 10 Big Titles — a combination of Grand Slam championships, trophies at the Nitto ATP Finals and ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, and Olympic singles gold medals.

Sinner now trails Alcaraz by just four Big titles. The Spaniard has earned five such trophies in 2025 — three Masters 1000 titles and two major triumphs — to three for the Italian. The 24-year-old has emerged victorious at two majors and one Masters 1000 event.

Big Titles Won: Alcaraz & Sinner

The San Candido native has claimed Masters 1000 glory at least once in three consecutive seasons. It is also the second straight year he has earned at least three Big Titles, after winning six in 2024.

The new No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings now owns the fifth-most Masters 1000 titles among active players with five. Only Novak Djokovic (40), Alcaraz (8), Alexander Zverev (7) and Daniil Medvedev (6) own more of the prestigious trophies.

Sinner has won a Big Title for every 6.3 tournaments he has played in his career. Only Djokovic (3.3), Rafael Nadal (3.5), Alcaraz (3.9), Roger Federer (4.4), Pete Sampras (4.9) and Andre Agassi (6.1) have won the events at a higher rate.

There is one more Big Title up for grabs this season, with Sinner and Alcaraz set to headline the field at the Nitto ATP Finals from 9-16 November. Sinner is the defending champion at the year-end championships, which Alcaraz has not yet won.

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Sinner wins maiden Paris title, reclaims World No. 1

Jannik Sinner scored a victory of double significance on Sunday at the Rolex Paris Masters, where he clinched his fifth ATP Masters 1000 crown and marked his return to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Displaying trademark composure and precision, the 24-year-old Italian withstood a spirited Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-6(4) in the final to secure his maiden title at the French ATP Masters 1000 event. With his flawless run in Paris, Sinner became the first player to win a title at this level without dropping a set since Carlos Alcaraz in Indian Wells in 2023, while also extending his indoor winning streak to 26 matches.

Sinner Conquers Paris! 👏@janniksin defeats Auger-Aliassime to clinch a fifth career ATP Masters 1000 title and reclaim the World No.1 ranking@RolexPMasters | #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/Slery9Myll

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 2, 2025

“It’s huge, honestly, it was such an intense final, and we both knew what was on the line,” Sinner said after his one-hour, 52-minute win. “I’m extremely happy, the past couple of months have been amazing. We try to work on things and seeing this result makes me incredibly happy. Another title this year… It’s been an amazing year regardless of what comes in Turin.”

As well as ensuring his return to World No. 1 on Monday, Sinner tightened the race for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours. He now trails Alcaraz by just 1,050 points in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, ensuring their battle will be decided at the Nitto ATP Finals, where Sinner is defending champion.

<img alt=”Jannik Sinner” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/02/15/07/sinner-no-1-16×9.jpg” />_{^{Jannik Sinner will return to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday.}} 

Auger-Aliassime’s impressive run to his second ATP Masters 1000 final has notably boosted his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals. The Canadian has climbed up to eighth in the Live Race, holding a 160-point lead over Lorenzo Musetti, and will look to secure his spot when competing at the ATP 250 in Metz next week.

Though Auger-Aliassime fought hard in a closely contested second set, Sinner ultimately surged through an ultra-clean tie-break to capture his fourth tour-level title of the season. Adding to his wins against the Canadian in Cincinnati and the US Open this year, Sinner now leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 3-2.

“It was a very difficult match, he was serving incredibly well, especially from the first break on,” Sinner said of Auger-Aliassime “I didn’t have many chances… You have to use the small chances you have, and in the breaker it was just a small mini break, so I’m very happy with how I played there.”

After hitting three consecutive unforced errors to drop serve in a nervy opening game, Auger-Aliassime steadied himself and began matching Sinner from the baseline. Yet that brief lapse in concentration proved decisive as the Italian produced his trademark consistency — striking 43 of 46 forehands in play and posting a Shot Quality of 9.6, according to TDI Insights.

In the second set, Auger-Aliassime showed resilience and fight, fending off all five break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats. But, just as in the opener, one loose forehand in the tie-break handed Sinner the advantage, and he made no mistake in closing out his 23rd tour-level title.

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Serve fires Sabalenka to crushing win over Paolini at WTA Finals

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates securing the year-end world number one ranking with a crushing victory over Jasmine Paolini at the WTA Finals.

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Heliovaara & Patten capture Paris crown, extend Year-End No. 1 race

Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten captured their first ATP Masters 1000 title on Sunday at the Rolex Paris Masters, where they defeated second seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool 6-3, 6-4.

With their championship-match victory, Heliovaara and Patten ensured that the battle for ATP Year-End No. 1 Doubles presented by PIF honours will go down to the wire at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. Had Cash and Glasspool captured their eighth title of the season, they would have secured that honour.

New kings in the City of Light! 👑👑

Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten secure their first ATP Masters 1000 crown with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Cash/Glasspool!@RolexPMasters | #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/91zB9UO8nE

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 2, 2025

In a fearless final display, Heliovaara and Patten saved all three break points they faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats, which all came in a crucial fifth game. The win also marked a breakthrough for the Finnish-British duo, who had lost all four previous Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings with Cash and Glasspool earlier in 2025.

“It’s amazing. We are two very happy happy boys,” said Patten. “Julian and Lloyd are the best pair in the world right now. We’re still 4-1 down and still have a lot of catching up to do. We’re extremely proud of the performance and there’s no better place to do that in Paris.”

With their win, Heliovaara and Patten jumped up to second in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings, now just 1,305 points behind first-placed Cash and Glasspool.

“I had one other team that I lost four times in a row to,” added Heliovaara, who competed alongside Glasspool between 2021 and 2023. “I told them after the fifth that ‘No one beats Harri five times in a row’. We learned from those previous matches. It’s such a weird dynamic [with Cash/Glasspool], we’re such good friends until 10 minutes before we step on the court, and then it’s battle, battle, battle.”

Heliovaara and Patten’s breakthrough in Paris marked their third title of the season, including victory at the Australian Open. They will now reset before heading to the Nitto ATP Finals, where they made their team debut last year.

“We’re really excited to play Turin,” said Patten. “Our number one goal is to enjoy the week and hopefully we can play some good tennis.”

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Heliovaara/Patten keep Y.E. No. 1 hopes alive with Paris SF win

Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten kept Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool waiting in their pursuit of Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF honours on Saturday at the Rolex Paris Masters.

The third-seeded Heliovaara and Patten eased past Quentin Halys and Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-3, 6-4 in the French capital to reach their maiden ATP Masters 1000 final as a team. They converted four of 11 break points they earned in their 69-minute triumph, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Heliovaara and Patten are fourth in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings. Had they lost on Saturday, the door would have been open for Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool to secure Year-End No. 1 in the day’s second semi-final in Paris.

Cash and Glasspool did ultimately defeat Francisco Cabral and Lucas Miedler 6-4, 5-7, 10-7, and the all-British duo will ensure they end the year as World No. 1 by lifting the trophy on Sunday. Should Heliovaara and Patten triumph in Paris, however, the Year-End No. 1 battle will continue into the Nitto ATP Finals, where both teams will compete.

The Paris title match will be the fifth tour-level meeting between Cash/Glasspool and Heliovaara/Patten, with all of those matches coming in 2025. Cash and Glasspool lead 4-0 in the two teams’ Lexus ATP Head2Head series, but three of those clashes have gone to a deciding set or Match Tie-break.

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Sinner & Auger-Aliassime set for high-stakes Paris final showdown

Under the bright lights of La Défense Arena, Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime will step onto court chasing significant milestones when they battle for the Rolex Paris Masters title on Sunday.

For Sinner, victory would mark his first Paris crown and seal a triumphant return to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, reclaiming it from rival Carlos Alcaraz. Meanwhile, Auger-Aliassime — up to eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin — can book his spot at the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals if he emerges victorious. Their championship clash is slated for not before 3 p.m. CEST/9 a.m. EDT.

Paris Masters Final ⚔️Sinner vs Auger-Aliassime

Can @felixtennis stop @janniksin and take the title🏆❔

His serving will be key tomorrow as he looks to nullify Sinner’s return exceptional shot qualities on the groundstrokes🔥#TennisInsights | @atptour | #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/zhLTAUp2w3

— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) November 1, 2025

The pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series stands at 2-2, though Sinner has claimed consecutive victories in Cincinnati and at the US Open this year. Their semi-final in New York was a gripping four-set encounter, with Auger-Aliassime briefly threatening to turn the tide before Sinner’s poise prevailed.

“At one point I saw him doubt and I actually nearly had a momentum shift where I could turn the match around in my favour,” Auger-Aliassime said of that match. “After different reasons, maybe he had a letdown, and the match turns around again. But it was encouraging to see that. These players are not unplayable. They are very strong, yes. Sometimes they’re really unplayable, but there’s a way to upset them.”

Those words will underpin the Canadian’s mindset on Sunday — belief that, on his day, he can strike through even the tightest of defences.

If Auger-Aliassime is to upset Sinner’s rhythm, he will need to summon his full tactical arsenal. Indoors, Sinner has been near invincible, riding a 25-match winning streak under the roof, dating back to the Davis Cup Finals in 2023. His flat, early ballstriking make him lethal on these slick surfaces.

For Auger-Aliassime, the key will be to step inside the baseline and mix up pace with heavy topspin and slices, using his net skills to shorten the points. Fortunately for him, the numbers inspire confidence: He owns a Tour-leading 82 indoor wins this decade, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

This has been a season of revival for Auger-Aliassime, who has rediscovered his spark to capture three ATP Tour titles and return to the Top 10 for the first time since 2023. His run to a second ATP Masters 1000 final this week has been one of grit and composure, rallying from a set down in his first three matches, then capitalising on Lorenzo Musetti’s early exit to seize control of his Turin destiny.

“He plays incredible tennis at the moment, he has improved a lot,” Sinner said of Auger-Aliassime. “Especially in the past months, he has found his game again. I’m looking forward to it tomorrow, it’s a great occasion for both of us. I’m very happy for Felix, he is one of the nicest guys we have on Tour. It’s going to be a very difficult match.”

Watch Sinner & Auger-Aliassime set Paris final:

Sinner, meanwhile, has been a model of consistency in 2025, reaching the final in nine of the 11 tournaments he has contested. Yet it has not been without heartbreak. His Roland Garros final defeat to Alcaraz, in which he squandered three consecutive championship points, left deep scars, as did the loss of his 65-week reign as World No. 1 following their US Open final.

But every setback has fuelled his fire. In Paris this week, Sinner has been at his clinical best, dropping just 19 games across four matches en route to his ninth ATP Masters 1000 final. Now, he stands one match away from winning his fifth title at that level and reclaiming the World No. 1 spot.

As the Paris crowd prepares for the first final at the tournament’s new home of La Défense Arena, the stakes are high. Sinner is playing to confirm his dominance; Auger-Aliassime to remind the tennis world of his.

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