Jannik Sinner began his ATP Finals title defense impressively in front of his home crowd by defeating Félix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 6-1 in Turin, Italy. Sinner is aiming to secure the year-end No. 1 ranking, which would require him to win the tournament and also rely on Carlos Alcaraz not reaching the final.
Auger-Aliassime, ranked No. 8, struggled with a left calf issue during the match, receiving treatment from a trainer twice in the second set. Sinner acknowledged the challenge of the match, particularly noting Auger-Aliassime’s physical setback at 6-5 in the first set.
Having won the title in Turin last year without dropping a set, Sinner has maintained an impressive record at the event since losing to Novak Djokovic in 2023. The crowd showed their support with a sign calling Sinner “Italian pride” and chanting his name during the post-match interview.
Sinner has dominated his matchups with Auger-Aliassime this year, winning all four encounters, including at the U.S. Open semifinal and the recent Paris Masters final. In the Bjorn Borg group, Sinner and Alexander Zverev both have one win each, positioning themselves well for advancement to the semifinals.
Sinner’s strong first serve performance, winning 89% of points when landing his first serve, was a key factor in his victory. Looking ahead, Sinner acknowledged the tough competition in his group, emphasizing the need for focus and resilience throughout the matches.
In another match, Taylor Fritz defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-4. Fritz, a seasoned player in the tournament, highlighted the importance of the win for his chances of progressing from the group stage, especially adjusting to Musetti’s unique playing style.