The tennis world loves a rivalry—and few have captured fans’ imagination quite like Carlos Alcaraz versus Jannik Sinner. In a sport often defined by fierce rivalries and mental warfare, these two have managed to carve out something rare—a battle built on respect. Their clashes have produced some of the most electrifying tennis of the past two seasons, yet there’s never a hint of bitterness, only admiration. As the race for the year-end number one tightens, Alcaraz once again showed why this rivalry feels different…

The world number one tennis player, Alcaraz, has arrived in Turin ahead of the ATP Finals with two huge goals in his sight. Currently, there is just a 1,050-point gap between him and Sinner. The Italian has been in red-hot form recently. After losing the US Open final against Alcaraz, he won three titles (China Open, Vienna Open, and the Paris Masters). Will the ATP Finals add to that list? Time will tell! But the Spaniard has already made his intentions pretty clear: “I would love to win the tournament someday, and the No. 1 title has been a clear objective throughout the season.”

If we take a look back, he has won 8 titles this season (including the French Open and the US Open). He has played 75 matches in 2025 and won 67 out of them. So, that’s an almost 90% win record. What if, despite all these valiant efforts, he loses his crown to Jannik Sinner? Would that be a massive disappointment? “No, not at all. In the end, I think it's turning out to be a good battle between Jannik and me to see who finishes as number one. If he finishes first, it's because he's earned it and has had a magnificent end to the season. He won in Vienna, he's coming off a win in Paris, and if he finishes number one, it's because he would win here, and he deserves it. I, obviously, am going to try to fight to prevent that from happening. If it does happen, it wouldn't be a disappointment,” said Alcaraz in a recent interview with MARCA, ahead of the ATP Finals.

Carlos Alcaraz will start his campaign against Alex de Minaur on Sunday, while Jannik Sinner will begin his title defense campaign on Monday against Felix Auger-Aliassime. 

Alcaraz doesn’t have a great record in this tournament. This is the third time he will be participating in the ATP Finals. In 2023, he lost in the SF against Novak Djokovic, while last year he was knocked out of the competition in the round-robin stage itself. He knows very well that in order to win the title this year, he’ll have to beat Sinner.

They can’t meet in Turin until the SF at the earliest, but they could avoid a meeting until the final if they win their groups. When he was asked whether avoiding a faceoff with Sinner before the final was running in his mind or not, Carlos Alcaraz said, “It’s a bit early to think about that. For me, if you want to win the tournament, you have to beat the best. And if I want to win, I’ll have to beat Jannik in the semifinals or the final, or another top player in the semifinals or the final. So I don’t mind.” He further added, “The important thing here is to advance, and if it’s by one player, all the better. And if it’s by two, we’ll have to assess the situation and give our best against whoever we face in those semifinals.”

As the season nears its crescendo, the stakes couldn’t be higher. For Sinner, it’s a chance to solidify his meteoric rise. For Alcaraz, it’s about reaffirming his place at the summit—not through arrogance, but through consistency, respect, and the unshakable belief that every great champion must earn his moment.

Tennis legend claims Carlos Alcaraz has a point to prove at the ATP Finals

Carlos Alcaraz has already scaled mountains most players only dream of—winning multiple Grand Slam titles, world number one glory, and outclassing some of the tennis giants emphatically. Yet, as the ATP Finals approach, one battleground still seems to challenge him: the unforgiving world of indoor tennis. Even tennis great Justine Henin believes the young Spaniard still has a point to prove when the roof closes and the lights come on.

Like most Spanish players, Alcaraz has been raised on outdoor courts, so his game is fully adapted to playing with the effects of weather, especially sunlight. Following his recent early exit from the Paris Masters, Alcaraz holds a 31-14 career record on indoor hard courts. Hence, his winning percentage is just 68.9% on this surface. This indeed is below par as per his standards. His only success on this surface came earlier this year in Rotterdam when he defeated Alex de Minaur in the final to win the title. 

Talking about his record at the ATP Finals in particular, he holds a 3-4 (42.9%) record from his previous two appearances. So, there is a lot to prove for him at the 2025 ATP Finals. 

But according to Justine Henin, “I think there are still some questions for Alcaraz in indoor conditions, even though he seems to have a lot of potential to perform well in those conditions. There’s no way around it; it’s still a hurdle to overcome. It’s the end of the season, even though he’s had some time off these last few weeks. He’ll have to manage the fatigue from the whole season, the pressure of the Masters. It’s a tournament where he’s never been able to shine as he would have liked, knowing that Sinner will arrive in top form.”

Do you think Carlos Alcaraz can surpass the challenge from the defending champion, Jannik Sinner, and secure his first ATP Finals title this year? Share your thoughts in the comment box.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta