SF Preview: Sinner duels De Minaur, Alcaraz meets Auger-Aliassime at Nitto ATP Finals

Match Preview

SF Preview: Sinner duels De Minaur, Alcaraz meets Auger-Aliassime at Nitto ATP Finals

Knockout rounds start in Turin

November 15, 2025

After a dramatic round-robin stage on the Nitto ATP Finals, the knockout stage begins Saturday with semi-final motion in Turin.

Carlos Alcaraz clinched ATP Yr-Finish No. 1 offered by PIF honours by going 3-0 in group play, however he wants two extra wins to safe an ideal finish to a career-best season. His subsequent hurdle will likely be Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Alexander Zverev in what was a win-or-go-home group finale for each males.

Jannik Sinner wanted Alcaraz to stumble in Turin to have an opportunity to complete the 12 months at No. 1, however his Nitto ATP Finals title defence stays firmly in his personal fingers. After his personal 3-0 group marketing campaign, the Italian residence favorite will face Alex de Minaur within the semis.

In doubles motion, prime seeds Julian Money and Lloyd Glasspool tackle Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury in an all-British matchup, whereas Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori meet Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.

[2] Jannik Sinner (ITA) vs. [7] Alex de Minaur (AUS)Whereas Sinner’s semi-final place was secured after his second victory, De Minaur confronted a nervous wait Thursday after his 7-6(3), 6-3 win towards Taylor Fritz. Alcaraz’s night triumph towards Musetti finally despatched the Aussie by; if Musetti received, he would have superior.

De Minaur’s victory — and Alcaraz’s subsequent favour — was the proper tonic after the seventh seed’s brutal defeat to Musetti two days prior. The Aussie led 5-3 within the remaining set however misplaced the final 4 video games towards the house favorite to drop to 0-2 on the week. His win towards Fritz was his first victory in two Turin appearances, following his debut final 12 months.

“I’ve handled a good bit of heartbreak just lately, so it was good to lastly get a win right here in Turin,” De Minaur mentioned after incomes his first High 10 win of the season exterior group occasions. “I’ve labored actually arduous so it was good to get some constructive suggestions or a constructive reward for the arduous work, so I’m very pleased with the efficiency.”

Even Sinner mentioned he was completely satisfied for the Aussie, talking after he wrapped his group marketing campaign Friday with a scrappy 6-3, 7-6(3) win towards Ben Shelton: “When you will have these sorts of losses, it’s robust. So props to him to come back again with an unimaginable efficiency towards Taylor,” mentioned the Italian. “I’ve to be very cautious [in our match], as a result of he doesn’t have lots to lose… I’ve lots to lose.”

Whereas each gamers enter the semi-finals on the again of a win, Sinner might discover additional motivation in his recent hunt for World No. 1. The Italian spoke of his pleasure to “chase” Alcaraz after the Spaniard dethroned him from the highest spot within the PIF ATP Rankings by beating him within the US Open remaining. Eight weeks later, Sinner regained the highest spot — although his stint lasted only a single week.

The 24-year-old might now not be World No. 1, however he has performed prefer it in Turin. For the second straight 12 months, he superior by the group stage with out shedding a set. The defending champion has now received eight consecutive matches and 16 consecutive units in Turin, having received the 2024 title with out dropping a set.

“Once you come right here and win all three round-robin matches, it’s important to play at a really excessive stage, which I’ve finished,” Sinner mentioned. “Serving very nicely in vital moments has introduced me up to now.” The house favorite has saved all eight break factors towards him within the event, seven towards Zverev and one towards Shelton.

De Minaur broke serve twice in every of his group matches, together with towards Alcaraz in his opener. Subsequent he’ll attempt to break his duck towards Sinner by incomes his first Lexus ATP Head2Head win within the pair’s thirteenth match.

Their first assembly got here on the 2019 Subsequent Gen ATP Finals offered by PIF. After three earlier matchups this season, together with within the Australian Open quarter-finals, the pair will now meet on the Nitto ATP Finals for the second straight 12 months.

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[1] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs. [8] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)Along with his World No. 1 mission already completed this week in Turin, Alcaraz can now flip his full consideration to his bid for a maiden Nitto ATP Finals title. By reaching the semis, the Spaniard has matched his deepest earlier Turin run, from his 2023 debut — although he went 2-1 in group play that 12 months.

Whereas Alcaraz’s place within the knockout rounds was secured earlier than his 6-4, 6-1 win Thursday towards Musetti, that matchup carried monumental strain: If the highest seed misplaced, he would have confronted a semi-final showdown towards Sinner, along with his place atop the PIF ATP Rankings beneath risk.

“It means the world to me, to be sincere. The year-end No. 1 is at all times a aim,” mentioned Alcaraz, who admitted to feeling nerves within the high-stakes match.

After the round-robin drama and all of the intricacies of the battle for ATP Yr-Finish No. 1 offered by PIF honours, the duty forward for Alcaraz is now simple: win two knockout matches to say his ninth tour-level title of the 12 months. His earlier excessive in a season was six in 2023.

The Spaniard will search his fifth straight Lexus ATP Head2Head win towards Auger-Aliassime to earn a spot in his first Turin remaining. After shedding their first three conferences from 2021-22, Alcaraz received all 9 units he performed towards the Canadian throughout 2023 (one match) and 2024 (three matches). Their Saturday showdown will likely be their first encounter this season.

Auger-Aliassime performed what successfully amounted to a quarter-final towards Zverev on Friday. Making his second Nitto ATP Finals look, the Canadian superior to the semis for the primary time with a 6-4, 7-6(4) end result — his fiftieth win of the season, in accordance with the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. After shedding his first three units of the week — two towards Sinner and the opener towards Ben Shelton — the 25-year-old rattled off 4 consecutive units to increase his keep in Turin.

“This can be a high-value event for gamers,” mentioned Auger-Aliassime, who moved as much as No. 5 within the PIF ATP Stay Rankings along with his two wins. Three years after reaching a profession excessive of No. 6 in November 2022, the Canadian will make his High 5 debut if he matches or betters De Minaur’s end in Turin.

He might rise as excessive as No. 4 with the title, however his full focus Saturday will likely be on spoiling the trophy hopes of World No. 1 Alcaraz.

“[The Nitto ATP Finals] is sort of a grand finale and once you take a look on the record of champions, there have been many No. 1s. You need to be within the remaining, however I’ll should undergo an amazing participant to do this. I’ll take my probability if I’ve it.”

Doubles ActionThe first all-British pair to say Yr-Finish ATP Doubles No. 1 offered by PIF honours, Money and Glasspool booked their semi-final place with a 6-3, 7-5 victory towards Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in a win-and-advance showdown Thursday. That victory additionally ensured there will likely be an all-British finalist: They are going to meet countrymen Salisbury and Skupski, winners of the John McEnroe Group and each former No. 1s within the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings, for a spot within the trophy spherical. Each pairs are in search of the proper finish to their first full season as a group.

The other semi-final will see residence favourites Bolelli and Vavassori tackle Heliovaara and Patten, who superior with a 7-6(5), 6-2 victory in their very own must-win match towards Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic on Friday. Each groups are competing on the Nitto ATP Finals for the second consecutive 12 months, with Heliovaara and Patten reaching the semi-finals final season.