Jannik Sinner’s chance to reclaim the throne slipped away. The Italian steamed through the ATP Finals group stage in Turin, not dropping a single set. He became the first to do that since Roger Federer between 2010 and 2012. Next up, Sinner faces Australian De Minaur in Saturday’s semifinal. But here’s the big news: Carlos Alcaraz was crowned the new No. 1 in the 2025 ATP rankings just before his match against Shelton. The season-long battle ended with the Murcian claiming the crown. Not an easy pill to swallow for Sinner.

“I’m happy for him, but if I told you I was super happy… I’d be telling a lie!“ Sinner said his 6-3, 7-6 win over Ben Shelton. “But he deserves it, he’s had an incredible season: he’s won two Slams, eight tournaments. He’s playing at a very high level, he’s competitive on any surface.”

This year marked the height of their rivalry. They’ve met five times in finals, including three Grand Slams and two Masters 1000s. They even clashed in an exhibition final in Saudi Arabia, where Jannik Sinner won the $6 million prize. Still, the head-to-head favors Alcaraz 10-5, although both have pushed each other to the limit.

“He had the pressure too, he managed it very well, but I’m glad for him. He’s a really good guy, he has a great team around him and he’s earned these achievements,” Sinner added. “For me, this is motivation for next year. If another player were to end up number 1, I’d always choose him, he deserves it.”

This is a developing story…