Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz open their ATP Finals with sparkling performances

On Monday, the Inalpi Arena vibrated with anticipation, packed with over 12,000 fans whose energy in the stands rippled through every point, every rally, and every act of daring on court. There was genuine drama—not just in the matches themselves, but in the festive chaos of the crowd, the championship stakes looming, and two local favorites standing at the center of it all.​

Both the afternoon and evening singles matches—Taylor Fritz against Lorenzo Musetti, and Jannik Sinner against Felix Auger-Aliassime—were shaped by Turin’s distinctive noise and nervous energy. For Musetti, stepping in as a late replacement for Novak Djokovic, the finals were a reward and a trial; for Sinner, the pressure of defending his crown became an opportunity to reaffirm his status as Italy’s most beloved sporting figure. Monday’s contest set the standard for a week where every moment seems to matter just a little more in Turin.

Taylor Fritz, the American who reached last year’s final, set the tone early with an assured performance against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti. Musetti, a late entrant after replacing the injured Novak Djokovic, entered the match eager to shine in front of an expectant Turin crowd. However, Fritz’s blend of disciplined baseline play and controlled aggression was simply too much for the Italian on his ATP Finals singles debut. Fritz captured the win 6-3, 6-4, showcasing one of his most complete serving displays of the year.

Fritz broke Musetti early in each set, immediately putting the Italian on the back foot. Musetti, typically known for his creative shot-making and flair, struggled to establish any rhythm against Fritz’s flat, penetrating groundstrokes. Despite the raucous support of his home fans, Musetti’s nervy serving and erratic returns meant Fritz mostly dictated play from the baseline, closing out rallies efficiently and giving up few opportunities on his own serve. With the victory, Fritz drew level in their ATP Head2Head at 3-3 and firmly established himself as a threat in the round-robin group.

The evening match saw reigning champion Jannik Sinner begin his title defense against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, in a match that carried echoes of their recent Paris Masters final, where Sinner had also prevailed. Sinner started with confidence, buoyed by passionate home support and the memory of his Paris win just over a week ago. He took the opening set 7-5 after a tightly contested first 10 games, breaking Auger-Aliassime at a crucial juncture when the Canadian showed signs of fatigue and discomfort.

In the second set, Sinner increased the pressure with relentless depth and accuracy, exploiting Auger-Aliassime’s mobility issues, later confirmed to be related to a calf injury. The Italian closed out the match 7-5, 6-1, managing his service games with assurance and capitalizing ruthlessly on his opponent’s compromised movement. The win marked Sinner’s fourth victory of the year over Auger-Aliassime, and with the Turin crowd behind him, he affirmed his status as a home favorite and a leading contender for the title.

With these results, Sinner and Fritz move to 1-0 in their respective groups, immediately boosting their chances of advancing to the semifinals. For Musetti and Auger-Aliassime, the losses mean their next matches are virtual must-wins. Sinner’s win was particularly significant, not only because it put him on course for a second consecutive title, but because it continued the momentum from his Paris Masters triumph and extended his win streak against top-tier opposition.

The atmosphere in Turin was electric, especially for the home players. Sinner, in particular, thrived under the weight of expectation, feeding off the energy from the crowd during key moments. Musetti, meanwhile, admitted to some nerves in his post-match comments, acknowledging that while he relished the occasion, Fritz’s consistency proved too strong on the day. The crowd’s enthusiastic support promises to remain a factor throughout the tournament, with both Sinner and Musetti set for more prime-time appearances in the coming days.​

As the ATP Finals continue, all eyes remain focused on whether Sinner can defend his title and if Fritz can build on his opening statement to finally claim his first year-end crown. Monday’s singles action made clear that the world’s best are peaking at just the right time—setting the stage for a dramatic showdown in Turin.

Jannik Sinner - Photo by Tullio Puglia/Getty Images