Jannik Sinner delivered a stunning performance in Turin to defend his ATP Finals title, defeating his great rival Carlos Alcaraz in a straight-sets victory of intense quality. The 7-6(4), 7-5 win before a raucous home crowd was a fitting conclusion to a season dominated by these two athletes, but the final’s most significant record was set not on the court, but in living rooms across the country.

As reported by Olly Tennis on X, the broadcast made history, with preliminary reports indicating it was the most-watched tennis match in Italian television history, drawing over 6,789,000 viewers. The match itself was a showcase of the highest level of tennis, a testament to the rivalry that has captivated the sport. Sinner, the world No. 2, saved a critical set point at 5-6 in the first set with what his opponent later described as a surprising 190 km/h second serve. He then sealed a tight first set in a tie-break, lifting the roof off the Inalpi Arena with two stunning lobs over a net-rushing Alcaraz.

The Spaniard, who had his right thigh taped after a medical timeout, broke Jannik Sinner’s serve early in the second set but could not maintain the lead. Sinner broke back and, with the crowd passionately behind him, closed out the match after two hours and fifteen minutes, falling to his back in relief. The victory extended his remarkable unbeaten streak on indoor hard courts to 31 matches and marked his tenth consecutive win at the season-ending tournament.

This historic television audience is the culmination of a year that has seen Sinner’s matches consistently draw massive ratings in Italy, reflecting his status as a national icon. Earlier in the tournament, his debut match had already attracted 2.27 million viewers, a figure that surpassed a high-profile Serie A football match between Inter Milan and Napoli shown on a subscription channel that same day.

Furthermore, the final of the Rome Masters in May 2025 between the same two rivals had already demonstrated the immense pulling power of the “Sincaraz” rivalry, drawing an average of 4,885,000 viewers on the free-to-air channel Rai 1. The fact that a tennis match could achieve a 38% share in Rome, surpassing the finale of a popular show like Amici, was a clear indicator of the sport’s booming popularity.

The reported 6.78 million viewers for the ATP Finals final shatters that previous record, underscoring an unprecedented level of public engagement. This record-breaking viewership signifies more than just the popularity of a single match; it highlights a profound shift in the Italian sports landscape. Also, Sinner equaled another record with his victory in Turin.

Jannik Sinner is making moves in tennis history

Jannik Sinner just scored a big win against Carlos Alcaraz in Turin! Not only did he snag one of the sport’s top trophies for the second year in a row, but he also made history by becoming the youngest player to defend the season-ending championship since a 23-year-old Roger Federer did it back in 2004. He won the tournament without dropping a single set, which is pretty impressive!

Plus, he matched another one of Federer’s long-standing records with an amazing 31-match winning streak on indoor hard courts. So, it’s pretty clear that this huge achievement caught the attention of some big names in the tennis world. Brad Gilbert, who used to coach Coco Gauff, gave a shout-out to the Italian, saying, “Unbelievable effort from Sin City wins yearend ATP Tour championships back to back years without dropping a set, finishes the year on 3 straight indoor titles trophy.”

His quick praise really shows just how impressive Jannik Sinner’s perfect run in Turin was. By winning the title without losing a set for the second year in a row, Sinner has now joined Novak Djokovic as just the second man to pull this off at the ATP Finals. So, Sinner’s win against Alcaraz really wrapped up the season nicely, didn’t it? It definitely highlighted their rivalry as the main story in men’s tennis this year.