Jannik Sinner started his title defense at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, with a strong performance, defeating Félix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 6-1 in front of his home crowd. To secure the year-end No. 1 ranking, Sinner must win the season-ending tournament and hope Carlos Alcaraz does not reach the final.

Auger-Aliassime, ranked No. 8, seemed to struggle with a left calf injury that emerged towards the end of the first set, receiving treatment from a trainer twice during the second set. Sinner acknowledged the challenge of the match, especially before Auger-Aliassime’s physical issue arose.

Sinner, who clinched the title in Turin last year without dropping a set, has an impressive record at the event, with his only loss coming in the 2023 final to Novak Djokovic. Fans at the tournament displayed their support for Sinner, calling him “Italian pride” and chanting his name enthusiastically during his post-match interview.

Having won all four of his encounters with Auger-Aliassime this year, including at the U.S. Open semifinal and the recent Paris Masters final, Sinner showcased his dominance over his opponent. In the Bjorn Borg group, Sinner and Alexander Zverev lead with one win each, positioning themselves well for the semifinals, where the top two from each group will advance.

Sinner’s success was evident in his first-serve performance, winning 89% of the points when his first serve landed in, demonstrating his strength in crucial moments. Reflecting on the tough competition, Sinner acknowledged the need for focus and resilience against opponents with powerful serves.

In another match, Taylor Fritz defeated late entry Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-4, leveraging his experience in the tournament after reaching the final last year and the semifinals in 2022. Fritz highlighted the importance of his victory in navigating through the group stage, adapting to Musetti’s playing style during the match.