As the countdown to the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin begins, excitement is building among tennis fans worldwide. Set to commence on November 9, the prestigious tournament will see eight of the world’s best players vie for the coveted end-of-season title, with the outcome potentially influencing the rankings as the year closes.
At present, the focus is on determining the final five participants to join the already qualified trio of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic, who occupy the top three spots. Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, and Ben Shelton currently hold the next three positions and appear to be secure, primed only to decide their exact placing within the final standings.
While the top spots seem relatively secure, the competition thickens when examining the race for the last two qualifying slots, currently held by Alex de Minaur and Lorenzo Sonego. This week’s tournaments in Basel and Vienna are pivotal, with Felix Auger-Aliassime (9th), Casper Ruud (11th), and Daniil Medvedev (12th) all intensifying their push for inclusion. Jack Draper, ranked 10th, has withdrawn for the remainder of the season, narrowing the field.
Lorenzo Musetti, in particular, must regain his momentum after a disappointing quarterfinal exit in Brussels. His rivals have capitalized on their opportunities—Auger-Aliassime claimed the Brussels title, while Ruud and Medvedev each earned points from their respective successes in Stockholm and Almaty, all part of the ATP 250 events.
This week, Musetti and Medvedev will be competing at the ATP 500 event in Vienna. Meanwhile, Auger-Aliassime and Ruud have chosen to pursue points in Basel. The Canadian, Auger-Aliassime, currently trails Musetti by 330 points, requiring a strong performance to narrow the gap, while Ruud must overcome a deficit of 740 points.
Despite being in a relatively secure seventh position, De Minaur is aware that the competition is tightening around him, with only a narrow 60-point cushion above Musetti. He kicked off his campaign this week with a decisive 6-4, 6-1 victory over Austrian wildcard Jurij Rodionov in the first round at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.
Musetti is slated to open his title bid against Stefanos Tsitsipas later this week, a crucial match that could determine his chances of qualifying for the tour finals for the first time. Auger-Aliassime will also be making his Basel debut against fellow Canadian Gabriel Diallo, while Ruud prepares to face Quentin Halys of France.
The Race to Turin is heating up, and Musetti is feeling the pressure as he fights to secure his place among the elite. As the tournament weeks unfold, players will be looking to take advantage of every opportunity to bolster their rankings and secure a coveted spot in the Finals.
