A dark cloud hung over Alex de Minaur’s match against Jannik Sinner in Turin. Every shot felt heavier, every point harder to win, as Sinner broke late in the first set and then pulled away to complete a 7-5, 6-2 victory – his 13th straight win over the Australian in the first semi-final. With this win, Sinner reaches the ATP Finals final, while De Minaur is now out of contention at the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals. But what caught attention, though, was a humorous moment in the middle of the set.

At the start, De Minaur held his serve and looked competitive. Through the first ten games, the match was relatively even. The turning point came in the 11th game of the first set, when Sinner broke De Minaur’s serve with a sharp backhand return to take the set 7‑5. In the second set, Sinner surged early, winning the first four games. Then, De Minaur finally got on the board. After winning a single game to make it 1‑4, he gave a tiny, self-aware fist pump- gesture that caught the commentators’ attention.

The commentators immediately remarked: “De Minaur with a self-deprecating fist in the air as he gets on board.” But Sinner quickly regained control, closing out the set 6‑2 as his level rose and De Minaur struggled to respond. Despite the loss, Sinner praised his opponent: “It was a very tough match, especially at the beginning of the first set. I felt like he was serving great, very precise. In the second set, I broke very early and then my level rose.”

Sure,  De Minaur briefly silenced the home crowd when he surged to 0/40 in Sinner’s opening service game, but he failed to convert. From that moment on, the World No. 2 bided his time, probing for openings and never looking back.

This is a developing story…