On Sunday, Jannik Sinner defeated Félix Auger-Aliassime 6–4, 7–6 (4) to capture the Paris Masters title — a far cry from the clay of Roland Garros just five months ago. The Italian’s path was eased by an early surprise: Carlos Alcaraz’s first-round loss to Cameron Norrie, which opened the door for Sinner to reclaim the world No. 1 spot he’d surrendered at the US Open in August. In this piece, we look back at the decisive rounds in Paris — and at what this result means for a season-ending duel between tennis’s two brightest forces.
Witnessing Sinner claim his fifth Masters 1000 title on Sunday and overcoming a spirited Félix Auger-Aliassime to reassert himself at the very top of the game has been nothing short of entertaining. While the Canadian had fought superbly all week — edging past an in-form Alexander Bublik 7-6 (3), 6-4 in the semi-finals and dispatching breakout star Valentin Vacherot in the quarters — his momentum couldn’t shake the man who has become tennis’s hard-court authority. Indoors, few move or strike the ball with Sinner’s blend of precision and ease; his form since the Asian swing, capped by victory in Vienna, speaks for itself.
He now stands a genuine chance of finishing the year as world No. 1 — a remarkable feat considering he endured a three-month doping suspension earlier in the season. It is testament to his consistency, focus and will to reclaim the summit. His tennis has reached a rarefied level, with many analysts now daring to mention his name alongside Djokovic and Federer at their peaks.
The final itself was fierce and finely balanced. Auger-Aliassime’s resurgence remains one of 2025’s great stories — a season that has restored his confidence and his forehand. But against Sinner, there was simply too much firepower. The Italian has refined his serve, added bite to his return game, and even grown more vocal with his team in recent weeks — clear signs of a player learning fast from that bruising US Open loss to Carlos Alcaraz.
As Sinner lifted the trophy, the Paris Masters signed off as another worthwhile, fun and entertaining chapter in the tennis tour. From Alexander Bublik’s exuberance lighting up stands and TV watchers alike, to Zverev’s gritty comeback from near-injury against Medvedev, Paris didn’t disappoint. But with all that was said and done, Sinner once again proved himself the benchmark — the force driving the sport’s new era. This time, on his own.
Some might say the final stretch of the tennis calendar lacks spark, but 2025 has been anything but dull. The season now moves to Turin, where the ATP Finals (9–16 November) will decide who ends the year as world No. 1 and where Sinner was crowned champion in 2024.
Earlier today, Carlos Alcaraz reclaimed the top spot. Tennis rankings operate on a 52-week rolling system, meaning players drop the points earned at the same tournament a year earlier. For Sinner, that means losing the 1,500 points collected from winning last year’s Finals. For Alcaraz, this will shed only the 200 points he earned after failing to progress beyond the group stage.
Heading to Turin, Sinner is the clear favourite to lift the trophy — yet that alone may not be enough to finish the year on top. The equation is simple: if Alcaraz reaches the final, he retains the No. 1 ranking, no matter what Sinner does. The Italian, therefore, must win the title and hope Alcaraz falls short. A tall order, perhaps — unless the Spaniard surprises us again with the same fire he showed against Norrie, or his body reminds him how long this season has truly been.
The Nitto ATP Finals will take place in Turin from 9 to 16 November, with the final qualifying spots still up for grabs.
