A dream could finally come true for Carlos Alcaraz. His trophy shelf already had plenty of wins, but he was still missing the Davis Cup and an ATP Finals title. Now, it was his chance to finally add one of them. But on November 16, during the 2025 ATP Finals match against Jannik Sinner, that dream suddenly faced a challenge when Alcaraz called his trainer midway through the match.

The match started smoothly. Carlos Alcaraz quickly took control, making Sinner work for every point. By 1‑1 and 2‑1, Sinner’s serves were strong, but Alcaraz stayed in the rallies and evened the score. There were small pauses early on, but Alcaraz stayed focused. As the set went on, the rallies became longer and more exciting. From 2‑2 to 3‑2, both players traded winners.

At 3‑3 and 4‑3, they both held serve, with Alcaraz hitting great shots and Sinner answering with fast, precise forehands. Then at 5‑4, Alcaraz shook his right leg and called for the trainer, worried it might be a hamstring issue. A medical timeout was taken for Alcaraz’s right leg and thigh, and the crowd held its breath as he accepted a massage.

Even with the leg concern, both players kept fighting. Sinner held serve, trying to take advantage, while Carlos Alcaraz managed to hold at 5‑5 and 6‑5, keeping the match extremely close. The set seemed likely to go to a tiebreak, with every point feeling crucial. At 6‑6, Alcaraz battled through intense rallies, hitting forehand winners and aces, while Sinner stayed right with him. A tricky drop shot almost gave Sinner a mini-break, but it didn’t happen. The match is ongoing, but there was drama in the stands too, and for a moment it looked like the event might get canceled.

Carlos Alcaraz stepped into a night that already felt cursed

From the very start, it felt like the night was cursed. Only fourteen minutes had passed when whistles and shouts suddenly rippled through the arena, forcing the match to stop. The umpire instantly called for medical staff and stepped down from his chair to look into the upper tiers. In the far corner, a fan had collapsed, and paramedics rushed up the steep rows to reach them while Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner stood frozen on court.

For several minutes, no one knew what was happening. Players waited. Fans held their breath. The entire match felt suspended in a strange, heavy moment. Finally, after almost eight minutes, the tournament director confirmed that the fan was okay, and applause broke out as the person was helped onto their feet and led out safely. Alcaraz and Sinner spoke quietly at the net, wondering if the intense heat in the arena had played a part.

Tim Henman pointed out how hard it is for medics to reach the top seats because of the steep design. As he puts it, “It is very steep and steeper as you move further up. Not easy for the medics to get access and get the patient out. Fingers crossed all will be okay.” In total, the match was delayed for eleven minutes before Sinner could serve again. It only added to the sense that the event had been unlucky from the start, especially since two spectators had passed away earlier in the week due to cardiac arrest. Even with all this happening around him, Carlos Alcaraz stayed focused, determined to finish the year strong as the world No.1.