Alcaraz and Sinner maintain their momentum

The Nitto ATP Finals delivered another thrilling day of world-class tennis on Wednesday at Turin's Inalpi Arena, where defending champion Jannik Sinner continued his dominant form and Felix Auger-Aliassime mounted a gutsy comeback. Carlos Alcaraz edged closer to year-end supremacy while Lorenzo Musetti ignited home hopes with a dramatic comeback victory. Across these two days, four compelling matches showcased the intensity and high stakes of the season-ending championship.

On Tuesday evening, Lorenzo Musetti kept his semifinal dreams alive with an electrifying 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 triumph over Alex de Minaur in a match that stretched two hours and 47 minutes. Playing in front of a roaring Italian crowd, Musetti appeared spent after dropping the second set but found renewed energy when it mattered most. Trailing 3-5 in the decisive set and staring at elimination, the 23-year-old rallied spectacularly, breaking De Minaur when the Australian served for the match. The comeback included a breathtaking 31-shot rally at a crucial juncture that left both players sprawled on the court. Musetti's victory marked his first win at the prestigious event and moved him to 1-1 in the Jimmy Connors Group, giving him a fighting chance heading into his final round-robin clash with top seed Carlos Alcaraz.

Alcaraz demonstrated why he leads the race for year-end No. 1, outlasting Taylor Fritz in a pulsating three-set battle. The Spaniard rallied from a set down to prevail 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-3 after two hours and 48 minutes of intense tennis. Fritz, last year's finalist, appeared poised to hand Alcaraz his second indoor loss of the year when he claimed the opening set in a tiebreak. However, Alcaraz turned the tide with a remarkable display of resilience highlighted by a marathon 14-minute service hold early in the second set. Facing break point at 2-2, the 22-year-old produced stunning shotmaking to escape danger, eventually saving both break points he faced in that set. A fortunate net-cord return at 0/15 while serving at 5-6 helped swing momentum decisively in Alcaraz's favor, and he never looked back, improving to 5-1 in his head-to-head series with Fritz. The victory moved Alcaraz to 2-0 in his group and within one win of securing the year-end No. 1 ranking for the second time in his career.​

Wednesday's action opened with an all-North American thriller as Felix Auger-Aliassime battled back from the brink to defeat Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-5 in two hours and 25 minutes. Shelton dominated the opening set, breaking the eighth-seeded Canadian twice and showcasing his aggressive serve-and-volley game.

However, Auger-Aliassime, who had shown injury concerns in his opening loss to Sinner, moved freely and gradually found his rhythm. The match's pivotal moment came in the second-set tiebreak, where Auger-Aliassime saved two points from defeat. At 6-7 in the breaker, Shelton committed a crucial double fault shortly after taking a tumble, handing the Canadian a lifeline.

Auger-Aliassime seized the opportunity, leveling the match and carrying that momentum into the decider. Though Shelton saved two match points in the final game, the Canadian's superior composure prevailed as he secured his tour-leading 20th deciding-set victory of the season. The result kept Auger-Aliassime's semifinal hopes alive at 1-1 while eliminating the fifth-seeded American debutant from contention.​

Sinner delivered a commanding performance to book his semifinal berth with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Alexander Zverev in just 97 minutes. Playing before his adoring home fans, the world No. 2 earned his fifth consecutive win over the German and his third in just 17 days. Sinner's serving prowess proved decisive—he fired 12 aces, including four in the opening game alone, and saved all seven break points he faced.

Zverev, a two-time champion seeking to reclaim form, held two break points in the very first game but watched helplessly as Sinner erased both with aces. The Italian claimed the crucial break at 5-4 in the opener, converting his third set point after Zverev mistimed a forehand to end a thrilling 17-ball rally.

In the second set, Sinner showcased his trademark composure, landing first serves on all seven break points he faced, including three consecutive points while trailing 0-40 in his second service game. The victory improved Sinner to 2-0 in the Bjorn Borg Group and extended his indoor hard-court winning streak to 28 matches, a run that began after his loss in the 2023 ATP Finals championship match.​

With Alcaraz and Sinner both positioned strongly in their respective groups, the stage is set for a potential showdown as both chase history—Alcaraz seeking year-end No. 1 honors and Sinner defending his crown on home soil.

Jannik Sinner - Photo by Tullio Puglia/Getty Images