With hundreds of points, tens of thousands in prize money and even the year-end No.1 ranking at stake, this year’s ATP Finals will have a lot on the line.
Held at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, the year-end showdown features the eight highest-ranked players over the past 52 weeks. Split into two groups of four, each player will play three round-robin matches with the top two of each group progressing to the knockout stages. In terms of prize money and ranking points available, it is the second-most prestigious event in men’s tennis after the four Grand Slams.
Home player Jannik Sinner is the defending champion after clinching the 2024 title without dropping a set in five matches played. Hot on his tail will be Carlos Alcaraz, who is aiming to become the first Spaniard to win the singles title since 1998. The duo have dominated the major events in recent months, winning the last eight between them. As for their head-to-head in 2025, Alcaraz has won four of five meetings, but none of those clashes have been on indoor hardcourt, where Sinner currently has a 26-match winning streak.
Sinner heads the Bjorn Borg group along with Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton. The fourth player will be either Lorenzo Musetti or Félix Auger-Aliassime, depending on whether Musetti wins the Athens Open.
In the Jimmy Connors Group, Alcaraz is set to lock horns with Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur. Although Djokovic has yet to confirm he will be playing.
On Friday, those already in Turin took part in the tournament’s media day and they had plenty to say.
Alcaraz – chasing after maiden glory
Given his amount of success, it is easy to forget that this will only be Alcaraz’s third appearance at the Finals. He first qualified in 2022 but couldn’t play due to injury. Then, in 2023, he reached the semi-finals before losing to Djokovic. There was more disappointment for Alcaraz 12 months ago when he failed to get out of the round-robin stage.
“Ending the year as number one has been an important goal for me for about half the year,” Alcaraz commented.
“At first, I didn’t think about it much, but now it’s a key target. I’m motivated to perform well, play my best tennis, get wins, and qualify for the semi-finals. Doing well here helps achieve that, so it’s the same motivation — they go together.”
Alcaraz is seeking his ninth ATP title of the season in Turin, which is a milestone that hasn’t been achieved since Andy Murray did so in 2016. His 2025 trophy collection features two Grand Slams, three Masters and three ATP 500 titles.
“This is really important. The ATP Finals is one of the most significant tournaments on tour, and all the players work since the beginning of the year to qualify for it. It’s special, and I’m excited and motivated to perform well.”
Alcaraz has a winning record of 13-3 against top 10 players since the start of January.
Sinner – targets a double hat-trick of titles
Despite serving a 90-day suspension for an anti-doping violation earlier this year, Sinner has still managed to clinch multiple trophies. Two of those were at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Then, during the past couple of months, he triumphed at ATP 500 events in Beijing and Vienna before going on to win the Paris Masters.
“Here (at the ATP Finals) there’s a small group, you have to start strong or you risk compromising the tournament,” said Sinner.
“I’m still happy to be here, to play in front of the Italian crowd, and to try to finish the season in the best way.”
Sinner’s rivalry with Alcaraz is a big talking point in men’s tennis. Besides battling for the title, the two are also in with a shout of claiming the year-end No.1 spot. Although Alcaraz is in a stronger position to claim the year-end honors with a 1050-point lead over Sinner when the italian’s points earned from last year’s ATP Finals are removed.
“If he (Alcaraz) plays well there’s nothing I can do regardless of my result,” Sinner admits.
“Last year I had great emotions lifting the trophy; that’s something I’d like to feel again, no matter who ends up number one.
“ My focus is just on playing great tennis, like I have in recent months and weeks.”
Should Sinner defend his title, he would become the 11th man to have won the ATP Finals in multiple years.
Alexander Zverev – A tournament veteran at 28
Whilst he has never won a major title or clinched the No.1 ranking so far in his career, Zverev has established himself as a formidable force in the year-end event.
Boasting a win-loss record of 17-10 during seven appearances, the German has won the title twice before. His maiden triumph was in 2018 when the only player to beat him was Djokovic. Then in 2021, he triumphed again with a straight-sets triumph over Daniil Medvedev in the final.
“It’s a very unique and special event. Here you have to play your best tennis from the first point to the last. It’s definitely an event that, if you qualify, you always look forward to. I’m looking forward to it this year as well,” he explained.
Zverev has a win-loss record of 54-23 so far in 2025, winning his sole title at the Munich Open in April. However, there is concern about how he measures up against the big guns, given he has only won three out of 12 meetings against top 10 players this season.
“This year I dealt with physical problems for much of the season, I wasn’t always at my best. But when I was healthy and able to compete, like in the last few weeks in Vienna and Paris, I think I showed that I can still play great tennis,” Zverev commented.
“That gives me hope: when I’m healthy, I can compete with the best. But yes, the view that Djokovic and Carlos are ahead isn’t just perception, it’s reality.”
Ben Shelton – the newbie
The enormity of playing in the event isn’t worrying Ben Shelton, who will make his tournament debut at 24. Currently at a ranking of sixth in the world, the American won his maiden Masters 1000 title during the summer in Canada. However, in recent weeks, he has been hampered by injury and has reached the quarter-finals in two out of his last five tournaments.
“This being my first time, it’s special—a totally different feeling from the other tournaments throughout the year,” Shelton told reporters.
“I really like feeling the energy of the crowd, whether it’s for or against me.”
Coached by his father and former player Bryan Shelton, the newcomer describes his place in the tournament as recognition of his hard work.
“Last year I was outside the top 20, but I’ve come a long way—improving my game a lot over the last two years. That’s what means the most to me: not the results themselves, but how I’ve progressed, how I’ve managed to play well on different surfaces and throughout the entire year. To be among the eight finalists in Turin you have to be really consistent, more so than just being top 20. So being here means I’ve improved enough to deserve it, and that’s what makes me happiest.”
Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur – can they better their 2024 results?
On media day, some players have more questions than others and therefore provide plenty more content. Nevertheless, Fritz and de Minaur did share some words.
Last year, Fritz enjoyed a strong run at the tournament with a trio of wins over de Minaur, Medvedev and Zverev en route to the final. However, he was denied the title by Sinner, who also beat him in the round robin stage.
“I was playing very good tennis the whole week,” Fritz remembers.
“I had a really strong training week leading up to it, and making the Finals was a great result. “The best moment was winning my semi-final match. Even though I played (Sinner) twice, in that final, the crowd was amazing and incredibly nice to me, which was great.”
In contrast, de Minaur lost all three of his matches played that same year. However, since then, the Australian has recorded more Tour-level hard-court wins than anybody else.
“I’ve been consistent and played well on hard courts. Looking at the competition ahead, we have a tough group and are all capable of playing well and challenging each other. We’re all excited for the competition to start and to show what we’ve accomplished this year.” De Minaur previewed.
It has been more than 20 years since an American or Australian player won the ATP Finals. The last to do so were Pete Sampras in 1999 and Lleyton Hewitt in 2002.
NOTE: Djokovic and Musetti were not at media day due to their ongoing participation at the Athens Open.
