Jannik Sinner delivers early blow to Carlos Alcaraz ahead of world No. 1 showdown

A surprising scene unfolded at the Inalpi Arena in Turin as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the world’s top two tennis players, trained together before the ATP Finals.

The session, which lasted about an hour and 40 minutes, was broadcast live on the ATP’s official channel. While this isn’t the first time the two have practiced together, it’s unusual to see them sharing the court ahead of one of the season’s biggest tournaments.

Getting ready for indoor hard courts

Beyond their six meetings this season in Rome, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Cincinnati, the U.S. Open, and the Six Kings Slam, Sinner and Alcaraz used the session to adapt to the indoor hard court conditions they’ll face in Turin.

The head-to-head practice lasted over 90 minutes. The first 50 minutes took place on a secondary court, where they focused on stretches and warm-up exercises with their rackets. They started rallying from the baseline, then Alcaraz worked on volleys and serves, followed by Sinner, who focused on returning shots from the back of the court and practicing serves exclusively to his left box.

Sinner defeats Alcaraz

Later, they moved to the main court and increased the intensity with real match-like situations. They played a set and a tie-break.

Sinner took the first set 6-3, a score that could have been more decisive after he raced to a 3-0 lead following an early break. Alcaraz bounced back in the tie-break, taking it 7-3. The session ended with both players embracing, a moment that drew cheers from the Italian crowd in attendance.

The No. 1 battle is set

Sinner has made his mark early in Turin, but Alcaraz knows the world No. 1 ranking depends entirely on his own performance in the ATP Finals.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.