Jannik Sinner has reclaimed the number one spot in men’s tennis following a decisive victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Rolex Masters, securing his fifth Masters 1000 title. The Italian’s triumph in Paris sets the stage for a critical end-of-year stretch, as he now strives to defend his title at the ATP Finals to maintain his lead against his closest rival, Carlos Alcaraz, who currently holds a 1,050-point advantage. The ATP Finals is set to commence on November 9 in Turin, where Sinner will be eager for Alcaraz to falter as he did in Paris.
“I’m really happy, the past couple of months have been incredible,” Sinner remarked after his victory. “We’ve been working hard, and seeing this result brings me great joy. Winning another title this year has been remarkable, regardless of what happens in Turin.”
For Auger-Aliassime, the runner-up finish brought him significant gains as he moved up to eighth position in the Race to Turin rankings. This outcome puts him in a battle with Lorenzo Musetti, whom he has recently overtaken, to secure a spot in the prestigious eight-player ATP Finals draw. While Auger-Aliassime heads to Metz for an ATP 250 event, Musetti will be in Athens competing for the same opportunity.
In the final match, Sinner started strong, breaking Auger-Aliassime immediately and maintaining his composure throughout the contest. The Italian displayed remarkable skill, blending speed with precision to thwart all of Auger-Aliassime’s attempts to equalize.
The 24-year-old delivered a flawless performance, concluding the tournament without dropping a single set—a testament to his dominance throughout the week. His consecutive indoor match wins have now reached 26.
“It was an intense final, and we both understood the stakes involved,” Sinner said after his one-hour and 52-minute match. “I’m thrilled; we have put so much effort into our training and to see it pay off with another title is fantastic.”
The second set proved to be a tight contest, characterized by Auger-Aliassime’s powerful serving. Despite his efforts, Sinner managed to contain the Canadian’s game, even though he couldn’t break his serve again despite holding five break points. Ultimately, it was Sinner’s prowess in the tie-break that decided the set.
“It was a tough match, and he was serving remarkably well, especially after the initial break,” Sinner noted while reflecting on his 23rd career title. “Chances were scarce, so it was crucial to capitalize on the few I had. In the tie-break, it was just a matter of seizing that small mini break.”
With attention now shifting to upcoming tournaments in Metz and Athens, all eyes will soon turn to Turin, where the stakes will be higher than ever.
