Jannik Sinner delivered a composed and commanding performance to defeat Carlos Alcaraz 7–6, 7–5 in their ATP Finals showdown. The contest was fiercely competitive from the outset, with both players exchanging heavy groundstrokes and consistently pushing each other’s movement and shot tolerance to the limit.

Some observers believed there was more to the result than just Sinner’s level, including former British No. 1 Tim Henman. He suggested that Alcaraz’s lingering hamstring issue appeared to limit his explosiveness, particularly in long rallies. Henman said on Sky Sports that the Spaniard “was still striking the ball well, but you could see he wasn’t able to push off with the same intensity,” adding that in a match of such fine margins, “even a small physical limitation can make a big difference.”

To be honest, I think the leg problem had something to do with it. Alcaraz changed his style of play and was much more aggressive in attack, which he’s capable of, but I think he would have liked to prolong the exchanges if he hadn’t been injured. In the first set, he had his chances, and Sinner responded. It was a fascinating tiebreak with four or five drop shots all at once. I think the crowd cheered for Sinner, but I love seeing Alcaraz afterward, with a smile on his face and a great outlook. There’s a big difference between these two and the rest.….

The full extent of Alcaraz’s injury and its impact on the final remains unclear, but it has had immediate consequences for his season. The Spaniard has been ruled out of the Davis Cup final playoffs, where Spain will face the Czech Republic. This marks the second time this year that physical issues have troubled Alcaraz in a championship match—the first occurring in the Barcelona Open final, where he fell to Holger Rune after struggling with discomfort..

Davis Cup to kick off without Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner….

The 2025 Davis Cup Finals have encountered yet another major setback, as World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz has officially withdrawn due to injury. His absence removes one of the tournament’s biggest attractions in Bologna and significantly changes the complexion of the competition. The announcement has also sparked concerns about the overall depth and strength of the player field this year.

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (2)Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

Alcaraz first began experiencing hamstring discomfort during his ATP Finals campaign in Turin and then aggravated the issue in his match against Jannik Sinner on Sunday. Although he took a medical timeout and initially remained hopeful of representing Spain this week, an MRI later revealed that the injury carried a high risk of developing into a tear. As a result, the Spanish team decided to withdraw him from the Davis Cup lineup as a precaution.

The Spaniard had been expected to anchor his country’s campaign at the Elite 8 stage, but his withdrawal leaves the team without a top-30 singles player. Jaume Munar, Pablo Carreño Busta, Pedro Martínez, and Marcel Granollers will now carry the responsibility. They are set to face a strong Czech Republic lineup in Thursday’s quarter-final showdown.

Spain is not the only nation grappling with high-profile withdrawals, as Italy will also head into the event without two of its biggest stars. World No. 2 Jannik Sinner has opted out to prioritize rest after another commanding ATP Finals triumph. He is joined on the sidelines by World No. 8 Lorenzo Musetti, who withdrew from Italy’s quarter-final against Austria due to fatigue and personal reasons.