Expert picks are back for the seemingly inevitable Nitto ATP Finals championship showdown between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. A three-team panel makes its predictions for Sunday afternoon.
Ricky: Following their historic French Open final, won by Alcaraz from triple-championship point down, these two rivals played three straight matches that didn’t qualify as epics. By their standards, that’s a relative drought. It’s a drought that should end on Sunday in Turin. This has all the makings of an absolute blockbuster. Combined, Alcaraz and Sinner are 8-0 overall this week and 16-1 in total sets. The result is a first-ever final appearance in the year-end championship for Alcaraz, while Sinner is the defending champion and playing in his third consecutive final inside Inalpi Arena. Given Sinner’s current level, Turin history, home-court advantage, and the indoor hard-court surface, he could win this one with relative ease. That being said, it’s hard to look past Alcaraz’s 11-5 H2H lead. And the bottom line is that I refuse to pick anything other than an instant classic for what is the best rivalry in tennis and one of the best rivalries in all of sports. Sinner in 3: 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(5).
Cheryl: The world’s best will battle it out for sixth time this year. One thing is for sure: Alcaraz has Sinner’s number. Sinner has five losses this entire year (plus one injury retirement) — four of them have come to Alcaraz and two of them have come in the finals of majors. Sinner basically doesn’t lose to anyone else right now…but he does lose to Alcaraz. And often. Which suggests that Sinner has a legitimate matchup issue with the Spaniard, and as such it’s oh so tempting to keep picking Alcaraz. But I’m not going to do it this time. First, I think Sinner is the better indoor player. They have only played indoors once and that was way back in 2021 when Sinner was mortal (Alcaraz won). It has gone Alcaraz’s way pretty much all year, but I think it’s Sinner’s time. Sinner in 3: 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(5).
Pete (Tennis Acumen): Yet again the titans of the ATP Tour meet in a final in 2025 — for the sixth time in six months, in fact! The H2H is heavily skewed in favor of Alcaraz, as the Spaniard has won all matches this year with the exception of the Wimbledon final. That match was immediately dissected for two weeks, diligently studied in detail — and the result was the implementation of new tactics specifically designed for the next time Alcaraz faced Sinner. Sure enough, the 22-year-old won the abbreviated Cincinnati final as well as the U.S. Open crown against the Italian, concurrently wresting away the No. 1 ranking in the process. Year-end No. 1 was cemented for Alcaraz earlier this week in Turin. Sinner has yet to drop a set in his four matches leading into the final, while Alcaraz has been extended the distance just once this week. This fact renders meaningless for the final, however, as it is truly all about this matchup that was fully expected by anyone with even a marginal knowledge of tennis in 2025. Excluding a retirement in Shanghai, Sinner has not lost since the U.S. Open final — winning titles in three events leading into Turin. Alcaraz has played sparingly since New York and won the Tokyo ATP 500 a few weeks after lifting the trophy at Flushing Meadows. Work toward regaining the No. 1 ranking begins now for Sinner. It is his determination and laser focus that will secure the title, as he is victorious for only the second time in their last nine meetings. Sinner in 3: 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-4.
first set to the Fox from set point down
Hasnt lost a set here in two years , amazing
yep
In fact will be nearly three years befor he loses one here, (if he does.)