Jannik Sinner started his title defense in the Nitto ATP Finals on Monday evening with confidence, although the home favorite took the opening victory 7-5, 6-1 in Turin against an injury-hampered Felix Auger-Aliassime.
With his one hour and 41 minute victory, Sinner improved to 1-0 in Bjorn Borg Group. The 24-year-old, who did not face a break point against Auger-Aliassime, is now on a 27-match winning streak indoors and has not dropped a set at the Nitto ATP Finals since his last defeat in 2023 against Novak Djokovic.
Winning start! ?@janniksin overcomes a physically challenged Auger-Aliassime 7-5 6-1 in his 2025 #NittoATPFinals opener pic.twitter.com/XM5WPOWfZG
— ATP tour (@atptour) November 10, 2025
“It was a very tough match until 6-5,” said Sinner. “I had some chances to break. He served very well, only once I missed a return, but it can happen. He played very aggressive tennis, so I am happy that I was able to overcome a very tough test today. Obviously winning the first match is very important in this competition and this format. I am very happy.”
“I hope it’s nothing serious. I obviously wish him a very speedy recovery and hopefully he’s back to 100 percent physically.”
By triumphing at the Inalpi Arena on Monday night, Sinner also kept alive his chances of beating Carlos Alcaraz for ATP Year End No. 1, presented by PIF Honors. The Italian is 1,050 points behind his rival in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, with Alcaraz having started his Nitto ATP Finals campaign by beating Alex de Minaur on Sunday afternoon.
In a rematch of their Rolex Paris Masters championship match eight days ago, Sinner and Auger-Aliassime played a hard-fought first set. The Canadian dug deep to fend off two break points at 3-2 and a set point at 5-4, but could not deny Sinner a decisive break in a twelfth game in which he also appeared to develop pain in his left leg after serving at 0/30.
Auger-Aliassime took an off-court medical timeout at the end of the first set and although he fought valiantly in his first Nitto ATP Finals appearance since 2022, the No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings could not recover from a drop serve in the second game of the second set. He also received treatment on his leg on the court at 0-3, when he reported to the physio that he felt pain in his left calf, and again at 1-4.
In characteristic fashion, Sinner hit the ball cleanly throughout the match and maintained his focus as Auger-Aliassime’s physical struggles played out across the net. According to Infosys ATP Stats, the second seed finished the match with 89 percent (32/36) of the points behind his first serve. Following his victories against Auger-Aliassime in Paris and Turin in November, the Italian has opened a 4-2 lead in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
“You still have to be very consistent, with good balance on the court,” Sinner said, when asked how he stacked up against a physically struggling opponent. “It’s a bit different, especially mentally, but at the same time it’s an advantage. You have to say that. You have to use it in the right way, even if you don’t want it to be that way.”
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