Carlos Alcaraz has secured a dominant path through the group stage of the 2025 ATP Finals in Turin, playing with a characteristically high-risk and explosive style to finish the round-robin phase with a perfect 3-0 record. His commanding 6-4, 6-1 performance against Lorenzo Musetti not only sent him into the semi-finals but also clinched the coveted year-end World No. 1 ranking, a key objective for the Spaniard. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Alcaraz, who has had a remarkably successful season with eight tour titles, including major victories at Roland Garros and the US Open.

According to former ATP professional Alex Corretja, as reported by We Love Tennis, the foundation of Alcaraz’s current success and his sole advantage over his great rival Jannik Sinner is a deliberate and strategic approach to tournament scheduling. “This year he won in Tokyo but didn’t go to Shanghai, and he arrived in Paris without any rhythm, but the time invested in training allows him to be better at the end of the year,” the former ATP pro said.

He continued, “Carlos has played 16 tournaments this year, compared to 11 for Sinner, who was suspended for three months. Carlos needed to play those weeks to unleash his most explosive and competitive tennis. It’s not just 16 weeks; it’s practically six months of competition. I think that’s why he’s fresher, better prepared, and has a better chance of winning the tournament, whereas last year he approached it exhausted.”

This analysis underscored a pivotal shift in Alcaraz’s endurance. In the past, the Spaniard has been open about his struggles with burnout during the late-season indoor swing, citing mental fatigue and a lack of experience on the surface.

His current physical and mental freshness, therefore, is not an accident but the result of a calculated plan. Meanwhile, Sinner, despite an otherwise stellar season with five titles, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon, faced a disruption in his competitive rhythm due to his suspension. However, the Spaniard’s Italian rival is already serious about the upcoming challenge in Turin.

Carlos Alcaraz’s rival knows it won’t be that easy

So, a lot of people are looking forward to a thrilling final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in Turin. But they still have to get through the semifinal stage. Everyone’s attention shifted to the Italian when he shared a few thoughts about his opponent in the semifinals.

After taking down Ben Shelton with a score of 6-3, 7-6(3), Sinner shared his opinions on the upcoming challenge against de Minaur. He said, “Yeah, I mean, you know, first I’m very happy for him because when you have this kind of losses, what he had, you know, against Lorenzo, it’s very tough. But props to him, you know, to come back with such an incredible performance, one of the best matches I’ve seen him play against Taylor.”

The Italian highlighted what makes de Minaur a real threat, saying, “So I have to be very careful, you know, because he doesn’t have a lot to lose. I have a lot to lose. So, you know, it’s going to be very difficult. But from my point of view, I’m very happy to be in the semis. It’s a special occasion for me, and hopefully I can show some good tennis. And we all hope for a couple of great semi-finals. And then we see what whatever comes out.”

So, here’s the thing: Sinner is feeling all that pressure as the defending champ in front of his home crowd, while de Minaur is stepping in with a refreshing mindset, having already tackled his own challenges. We’ll just have to wait and see if the Turin crowd gets to enjoy another classic Sincaraz final!