Since the US Open, Sinner has focused on being more aggressive with his serve – which resulted in him being broken just once in his five matches in Turin – and playing with more variety.
Both facets were clearly visible against Alcaraz.
When Alcaraz had the chance to win the first set 6-5 on Sinner’s serve, the Italian nervously sent a second serve at 187 km per hour to his opponent’s backhand to save the break point.
A pair of unreturnable first serves followed and allowed Sinner to force a tie-break which he then controlled.
In the second set, with Alcaraz hampered by a hamstring injury that required tying up, Sinner began using more drop shots and it was one in particular that saved a break point in the seventh game.
Breaking Alcaraz again in what turned out to be the final match, Sinner took the trophy without dropping a set.
“You are definitely a player I look up to,” Sinner, who extended his unbeaten domestic record to 31 matches, told Alcaraz in his winner’s speech.
“[You give me] lots of motivation – I need this – in every practice session with a big, big goal.
“I hope to see you again next year, with hopefully great, great fights ahead.”
The ticker tape had not even descended on the court in Turin yet.
Still, the platitudes exchanged by the pair – who seem to have a real warmth to their relationship – indicated that they are already looking forward to speaking again in the 2026 season.
Many tennis fans are also licking their lips at seeing Sinner and Alcaraz face off again – and lamenting that this won’t happen again in the next few months.
A meeting in the final of the Australian Open, with Sinner looking to defend his crown in Melbourne and Alcaraz looking to become the youngest man to complete a Grand Slam career, would be their dream.
Based on the results of this season and this last meeting, few would bet against it.
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