To mark the end of another exciting season, ATPTour.com unveils our annual ‘Best Of’ series, which will reflect on the most intriguing rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets and more. Today we highlight five standout ATP Tour matches (excluding Grand Slams) from this season.
For 2025, fans can vote for the ATP match of the year. Read on for a summary of the nominated candidates.
Miami R3, De Minaur d. Fonseca 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
Joao Fonseca’s hype train had reached new heights by the time of March’s Miami Open, presented by Itau. The teenage Brazilian, who ended 2024 by winning the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, quickly became a top attraction for fans this season. Not least in Miami, where he reached the third round of an ATP Masters 1000 for the first time with the raucous support of hundreds of Brazilian fans.
Yet it is not without reason that Alex de Minaur is known as one of the great competitors on the ATP Tour. Even against a pro-Fonseca crowd, the Australian showed all his fighting ability to halt his opponent’s momentum. De Minaur recovered from losing the opening set and dropping serve in the opening game of the decider to prevail in a pulsating third-round encounter.
“It was a great battle. I knew what to expect,” said De Minaur, who nodded to the carnival feel of the match by signing ‘Rio Open’ on the camera lens after his victory. “Not only is he an incredibly talented, dangerous, explosive player, but he’s playing with so much confidence right now and the crowd behind him. I knew I was going to be up against it and it was going to take every ounce of me. Just put my head down and get to work, I’m so happy with that win.”
Watch the highlights of De Minaur and Fonseca’s Miami Matchup:
Monte Carlo QF, Alcaraz d. Threads 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
A high-quality encounter with plenty of high-octane exchanges between two of the ATP Tour’s bright young stars lit up the quarter-finals of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in April. Carlos Alcaraz and Arthur Fils, who contested their first Lexus ATP Head2Head match, gave the first indication that their rivalry will be one to enjoy for years to come.
With both players producing many hard shots from the baseline, Alcaraz’s experience and ability to keep his nerves under pressure proved crucial. Already a set down, the Spaniard saved three break points at 5-5, 0/40 in the second set, and he later rallied from 1-3 in the third to complete a dramatic victory lasting two hours and 23 minutes.
“I think his level is high at the moment and he is putting a lot of pressure on his opponents,” said Alcaraz, who went on to win the title in Monte Carlo. “Today I felt it, but at some moments he just made a few mistakes. I tried to get the most out of those points and waited for my opportunities.”
See highlights of Alcaraz Outlasting Fils in Monte Carlo:
Washington QF, Moutet d. Medvedev 1-6, 6-4, 6-4
Corentin Moutet’s whirlwind week in Washington was highlighted by a remarkable quarter-final triumph against former No. 1 Daniil Medvedev. After only making it to the main draw of the Mubadala Citi DC Open as a lucky loser, French left-hander Moutet survived the grueling heat, cramps and a mid-match suspension due to lightning to book his last four berth in the US capital.
Moutet’s bid for a Maiden ATP 500 semi-final appearance was in tatters after dropping a one-sided first set, but he used his crafty play to great effect to rally and ultimately triumph in a chaotic climax, which saw play suspended by lightning before Medvedev could serve at 4-5 in the decider.
On his return to the court, Medvedev conceded three double faults in his service game as Moutet immediately began to cramp, but the Frenchman somehow pulled through, converting a manic match point with plenty of scrambling from both players, a net rope and a delightful Moutet lob.
“I felt tired, but not that bad. And then, I don’t know, within two minutes I started feeling some cramps and then I started feeling my body,” Moutet reflected on the last match. “I was pretty lucky with the break. It helped me a lot, even though I still came back to the field with cramps.”
Watch highlights of Moutet’s wild Washington upset:
Vienna F, sinner d. Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
Like Moutet in DC, Jannik Sinner also endured cramping to claim a three-set victory in the final of the Erste Bank Open in October. The Italian is known for his ability to bulldoze through opponents (48 of his 58 tour-level wins in 2025 came in straight sets), but Zverev pushed him to the limit in a heavyweight championship match in Vienna.
Sinner initially started moving gingerly after dropping serve in the fourth game of the opening set, which he was unable to save. Although he seemed to shake off that problem and produced a classy performance in the second set to force a decider, he resorted to pickling on substitutions and an extra aggressive approach to keep rallies short after cramping his left hamstring midway through the third set.
Whatever Sinner did despite his physical problems, it worked. After completing a victory lasting two hours and 29 minutes, Sinner recorded his 21st consecutive tour-level victory on indoor hard courts, a streak he extended to 31 matches by the end of the year after subsequent title runs at the Rolex Paris Masters and Nitto ATP Finals. The Italian also defeated Zverev at both events to end 2025 with a 6-4 lead in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
“It was such a difficult start in this final for me,” Sinner reflected after sinking Zverev in the Austrian capital. “I tried to hang in there mentally and play my best tennis when it came. The third set was a bit of a rollercoaster, but I felt the ball really well at times, so I tried to push and I’m obviously very happy to have won another title.”
Watch the highlights of Sinner and Zverev’s Vienna title clash:
Athene F, Djokovic d. Musetti 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
The final title match of the 2025 regular season saw Novak Djokovic and Lorenzo Musetti face off for three hours in an enthralling battle at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship in Athens.
Djokovic characteristically pushed himself to the limit to lift the trophy in Athens, but only after gaining the upper hand in a pulsating third set that featured 13 break points and five service breaks. But despite blowing leads of 3-1 and 5-3 in the decider, the former number 1 in the PIF ATP rankings sealed the title in style by serving out to love.
“An incredible battle… Three hours of a grueling match, physically,” Djokovic said after surpassing Roger Federer for the most tour-level titles on hard courts in the Open Era (72). “It could have been anyone’s match, so congratulations to Lorenzo for a great performance. I’m just really proud of myself for getting through this match.”
Watch the highlights of Djokovic and Musetti’s three-hour marathon:
To read more of the best encounters in 2025, read our overview of the best Grand Slam matches, the biggest ATP Tour upsets and the biggest Grand Slam upsets.
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