World number one Carlos Alcaraz eased to a 6-2 6-4 victory against Canada Felix Auger-Aliassime to the ATP Finals Saturday to set up a highly anticipated decisive match with the defending champion Jannik sinner.
Italian second seed beaten Alex de Minaur 7-5 6-2 in the other semi-final.
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Alcaraz overcame stiff resistance from Auger-Aliassime by breaking twice in the first set and the nerves seemed to hit the Canadian as he served at 5-4 in the second as four unforced errors handed the Spaniard the game, the set and the match.
Sinner and Alcaraz will face off in their sixth deciding match this year when they return to the Inalpi Arena for Sunday’s final where the 22-year-old Spaniard will attempt to win his first title at the season-ending tournament.
The Italian will play his third consecutive final in Turin, where Sinner has not lost a set since his 2023 defeat to Novak Djokovic.
Auger-Aliassime saved three break points in his first service game, but only delayed the inevitable, with Alcaraz able to activate the style at will. The Spaniard took the advantage 3-1 and closed the first set in love.
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Alcaraz grabbed the first break brilliantly. After Auger-Aliassime chased down a nasty drop shot, Alcaraz reached out to volley into the open court, pumping his fists in celebration.
“I felt like I could do anything on the court,” Alcaraz said of her first set performance.
“It didn’t matter if I hit a forehand down the line, a drop shot or a backhand down the line, I felt like everything was going to happen.”
The Canadian, who managed to force a break point in the first set, held on longer in the second.
However, anything Auger-Aliassime could do, Alcaraz could do better.
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The Spaniard held on to lead 5-4 before Auger-Aliassime collapsed under pressure, leaving Alcaraz running onto the pitch to celebrate with his team.
Jannik Sinner celebrates during his semi-final victory against Alex de Minaur (Getty Images)
World number two Sinner had to dig deep to get his first break of the afternoon’s match, which tilted the first set in his favor and the Italian won the first four games of the second set en route to victory against the Australian.
Seventh seed De Minaur fended off two break points to hold in the opening game of the match and was on the verge of a break after leading 40-0 in the second, but Sinner kept his composure to hold on.
“It was a very difficult match, especially at the start of the first set. I felt like (De Minaur) was serving very well,” Sinner said.
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Neither player could get any respite as the match remained tied until the 11th game, when Sinner’s perfectly angled backhand evaded a stumbling De Minaur to put the Italian ahead 6-5. Sinner held on in the next game with ease to win the first set.
Sinner dominated the second set, lifting a match point with a solid backhand volley before sealing the victory with a powerful forehand well out of De Minaur’s reach.
“In the second set… my level increased and I tried to be a little more aggressive, which worked very well,” Sinner said.
“Tomorrow I’m going to enjoy, I’ll do my best to have the best possible result but in any case, it’s been an incredible week.”
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Sinner saw his hopes of finishing 2025 as world number one damaged by Alcaraz this week, but with one final act to play, the Italian will attempt to exact revenge in front of a largely partisan crowd.
The Italian will also be determined to extend his 30-match winning streak on indoor hard courts.
“Facing Jannik with his audience on an indoor court is currently one of the most difficult challenges in our sport,” said Alcaraz.
“I hope there are three or four people in the crowd cheering me on, I have my friends.”
