Novak Djokovic clenched his fist in triumph and proclaimed a moment of freedom as he faced Carlos Alcaraz with a commanding 6-3 and 6-2 at the Nitto ATP Finals, a title he has captured six times. His next opponent is local favorite Jannik Sinner, who defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-1 in a dramatic display.
The Serbian star left no room for doubt, breaking Alcaraz’s hopes as the Spaniard entered with a clear plan, all within roughly an hour and a half. Djokovic pressed relentlessly, applying constant pressure from the moment the rally began. This was their fifth meeting, a 2-2 head-to-head, with both players well acquainted with each other.
Alcaraz faced a couple of break opportunities early but was unable to execute them. He did manage to hold serve after a mid-match scare, showing fight with five aces and a 67% first-serve percentage, until Djokovic seized the advantage and forged ahead 5-3, taking the first set in 41 minutes.
Djokovic continued the assault in the second set, pushing for another break at 2-1. The world No. 1 played with controlled precision, making very few unforced errors while sharpening his serves. Alcaraz saved a break point at 4-1, keeping the match alive. Seizing momentum, the Spaniard forced Djokovic into a lengthy service game that lasted more than eight minutes, producing electrifying points that drew applause from 13,000 fans at the Pala Alpitour in Turin.
Rematch against The Sinner
Djokovic extended his lead to 4-2 and closed the match with a decisive break. His path to the final is cleared for Sunday at 18:00 on Movistar. Sinner arrived undefeated in the tournament after sweeping his previous four matches. Their group-stage clash ended with Sinner prevailing 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (2), setting up a high-stakes rematch in the final.
Sinner faced Medvedev in a thrilling semifinal, an electric encounter that drew the Turin crowd into a frenzy. Medvedev rose to the occasion with a bold comeback attempt, but Sinner held firm and claimed the win in a three-set battle, showcasing a dominant serve and relentless pressure on key points.
In a post-match reflection, Sinner acknowledged the challenge ahead: “It will be a very complex match,” he said before the final. Their four previous meetings did not favor Sinner entirely, as Medvedev had won six of those eight encounters. Yet this weekend in Turin, the Italian grabbed his third consecutive victory over Medvedev, winning in Beijing and Vienna earlier in the season.
Sinner’s performance this tournament has been marked by a blistering serve and consistent accuracy. He won 56 of 58 points on serve at one stretch, finishing the match with 10 aces and 83% success on first serves, facing only a handful of break points and maintaining an exceptionally high conversion rate. “If he plays like this in the coming weeks, he could contend for multiple Grand Slams and potentially reach the No. 1 ranking,” Medvedev conceded after the defeat.
Granollers, doubles finalist
Marcel Granollers is set to compete in the doubles final this Sunday at 15:00 on Movistar, pairing with Horacio Zeballos after defeating the Indian duo of Rohan Bopanna and Australian Matthew Ebden 7-5 and 6-4. The doubles final promises a tense showdown with a seasoned Argentine-Catalan pairing seeking their first Masters title together in Turin.
Granollers and Zeballos have enjoyed a remarkable run, entering the final alongside the top American duo Rajeev Ram and British partner Joe Salisbury. Ram and Salisbury defeated the Mexican team of Santiago González and Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin by 7-6 (7), 3-6, and 10-7 in the deciding super tiebreak to reach the championship match.
“I was a teacher 11 years ago, so I don’t remember much… We are in the final. We must keep pushing with the same level we showed in Turin,” commented Granollers. The team known as Granulators—an affectionate nod to their long-standing partnership—will head into the finale with confidence, joined by Zeballos, who has previously reached major finals at Wimbledon (2021, 2023) and the US Open (2019). Their track record includes eight career titles on the circuit, a testament to their consistency and experience.
As the event nears its conclusion, the anticipation across Turin is palpable. The crowd roars as the final serves to a close, marking a compelling closing chapter for this year’s Nitto ATP Finals. The players’ performances have combined power, precision, and a touch of drama, capturing the attention of fans around the world and underscoring the enduring appeal of men’s tennis on the tour. The in-tunnel chatter and on-court exchanges hint at a weekend that could redefine rankings and legacies alike. The tale continues to unfold under the bright lights of a tournament that never fails to deliver.