World Cup-winning rugby captain Kolisi weighs in on Alcaraz vs. Sinner: ‘It’s huge’

  • Posted: Nov 16, 2025

Just like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, Siya Kolisi enjoyed the taste of victory on Saturday in Turin.

A two-time Rugby World Cup-winning captain with South Africa, Kolisi led the Springboks to a 32-14 victory against Italy at the city’s Allianz Stadium, just as home favourite Sinner was sinking Alex de Minaur to book his championship-match spot at the Nitto ATP Finals.

A few hours later, Kolisi was inside Inalpi Arena to watch Alcaraz down Felix Auger-Aliassime and set a blockbuster title match with his great rival Sinner. It will be the sixth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting between the two in 2025 and Kolisi, who is a big tennis fan, understands the significance of the pair’s rivalry.

“I’m very excited. I think it’s huge,” Kolisi told ATPTour.com ahead of Sunday’s final, scheduled for 6 p.m. CET/noon ET on Sunday. “Obviously, Sinner has home advantage here. He’s from here, but I don’t think that’s going to play on Alcaraz’s mind because he is such a powerful player and he showed tonight what he is capable of. It will be great.”

Kolisi first met Alcaraz earlier in the week in Turin and did not hide his excitement at crossing paths with the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. He also finally caught up in person with Auger-Aliassime, with whom he has frequently exchanged messages of support over social media.

“It was the first time I’ve seen Carlos play live and also the first time I’ve seen Felix play live,” said the 32-year-old Kolisi after witnessing Alcaraz’s 6-2, 6-4 semi-final triumph. “I came to the tournament because of Felix. [He and I] have been talking on social media and supporting each other. We already planned on meeting, and this was the opportunity to meet.

“[The match] was good. It was tough. Alcaraz was very powerful today, but you can’t take away from the effort of Felix as well. Alcaraz deserved the match, but Felix will get up again.”

<img alt=”Felix Auger-Aliassime/Siya Kolisi” style=”width: 100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/15/23/54/auger-aliassime-kolisi-nitto-atp-finals-2025.jpg” />

Felix Auger-Aliassime greets Siya Kolisi on Saturday night at the Nitto ATP Finals. Photo Credit: Jack Howell/ATP Tour

Auger-Aliassime is not the first tennis star that Kolisi has befriended. He has been close with Roger Federer ever since the former World No. 1 came out in support of the Springboks during the 2019 Rugby World Cup (Federer’s mother, Lynette, is from South Africa). The rugby star quoted the Swiss when asked what he most admired about tennis players and the way they compete.

“I’ve learned from listening to Roger Federer speak,” said Kolisi. “When you lose a point, you must forget it and move onto the next one. He says he has lost many points, but he’s won [so many] matches. It’s the ability to move on. You lose a point and then you change your mindset to win the next one. Also when you win one, you can’t dwell on it. Just move onto the next one. This mindset is so strong and powerful.”

Kolisi, who led his country to Rugby World Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2023, has since joined Federer on trips supporting the Roger Federer Foundation, which supports early education programmes in six countries including South Africa and Switzerland. However, their friendship has not yet stretched to playing tennis together. Kolisi is willing, but unsure his skills hit the required grade to take to court with a six-time Nitto ATP Finals champion.

“I’ve tried to play tennis, but I suck,” said Kolisi. “I would love to play [with Roger]. He does a charity match, and I would love to play in it one day. I suck, there’s no other way to put it, but I’ll start somewhere!”

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