Sinner begins his title defense facing Auger-Aliassime, while last year's runner-up Fritz takes on Musetti.

Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti will proudly appear on the ATP Finals court on Monday, marking the first occasion that two Italian players have both qualified for this esteemed season finale.

Defending champion Sinner will kick off his Turin journey in the Bjorn Borg group with a night session against Canadian Auger-Aliassime; the rookie Musetti will start in the Jimmy Connors group with an afternoon match against last year’s runner-up Taylor Fritz.

[2] Jannik Sinner (Italy) vs [8] Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada)

This will be the fourth major meeting between Sinner and Auger-Aliassime since August. But can the Canadian end his three-match losing streak against the in-form Sinner?

Earlier this month at the Paris Masters final, Sinner defeated Auger-Aliassime in straight sets, extending his indoor winning streak to 26 matches and further solidifying his dominance under these conditions. The Canadian, who lost 6-4, 7-6(4) in that intense match, believes the gap between him and Sinner is not large. After the Paris final, Auger-Aliassime said about Sinner:

“For me, the difference isn’t huge. Every time we play, I get closer to him. The scoreline in this match was tighter. At the US Open, I won a set, but lost the first and fourth sets quite hard. But as we say now, this (Paris final) was really close.”

To win on Sinner’s home turf, Auger-Aliassime must control the rhythm of their rallies, using his attacking instincts to approach the net and finish points. In contrast, Sinner will aim to dominate from the baseline, neutralizing his opponent’s offense and seizing counterattack opportunities— a tactic that has repeatedly worked for him at the Pala Alpitour arena.

Besides defending his title, Sinner is also fiercely competing with Alcaraz for the ATP year-end No.1 ranking, but he must win the championship to have a chance to secure this achievement for a second consecutive year.

[9] Lorenzo Musetti (Italy) vs [6] Taylor Fritz (USA)

Monday represents a long-awaited moment for Musetti. After a grueling three-hour final in Athens where he lost to Djokovic, he rushed to Turin and now must quickly recover to face the three-time consecutive participant and defending runner-up Fritz.

Musetti leads their ATP head-to-head 3-2, but their only previous indoor meeting was in the 2022 Davis Cup final, where Fritz prevailed. Fritz reached the semifinals in 2022 and the final last year, and he understands the importance of starting strong at the ATP Finals.

Fritz said:

“I’ve advanced from the group stage both times I played, and I won my opening match both times. I think that’s a key part. Getting that first win is so important... Last year my forehand improved a lot, especially on the move, and I hope to maintain that form this year.”

Tactically, this match pits Fritz’s power and efficiency against Musetti’s variety and finesse. Musetti has an edge on clay and grass, while Fritz is stronger on hard courts. Fritz’s powerful serve and penetrating forehand make him deadly indoors. Musetti will rely on his all-court game—mixing spins, slices, and sudden net approaches to disrupt his opponent’s rhythm. His elegant yet threatening one-handed backhand must stay precise to withstand Fritz’s pace pressure.

This will be their sixth meeting and first on such a grand stage, a true contest between experience and rising talent. Fritz aims to continue his excellent form in Turin, while Musetti hopes to harness the energy of the Italian crowd to deliver a breakthrough performance worthy of the moment.

Who will prevail? We will find out tonight.

[Come see me][Come see me][Come see me][Give myself a flower][Give myself a flower][Give myself a flower]

#ATPFinals#​#DjokovicWithdraws#​#Musetti#​#Fritz#​