Masters Cup 2025: Alcaraz and Sinner, the last collision: camaraderie, throne at stake and “freedom” in Turin | Tennis | Sports

The incomplete quota of masters – Novak Djokovic arrives in the city this Sunday, after competing in the final of the Athens tournament, and the eighth name will be decided on the horn, between Lorenzo Musetti and Felix Auger-Aliassime – is noticeable among the elegant reddish design of the Teatro Regio in Turin, where one by one the protagonists enter and the story points to two clear protagonists: once again, Carlos Alcaraz (22 years old) and Jannik Sinner (24). Who else? Ahead, days of mathematics and tennis on the ropes, due to the small margin of error offered by the Masters Cup format, and another episode of friction between the Spanish and the Italian, with the title and the throne in the air. A better ending is difficult.

The other reacted to each of their moves, resolving the season in photographic finishing and when everyone competes with their tongues out. Everyone, without exception, follows what is fair. This year, Alcaraz says he is better, fresher physically and mentally, but he already knows first-hand the harm of competition and the difficulty that the indoor game brings, which is why he is cautious. Be careful: a cold affected him last year and he fell into the net in the group stage, and two weeks ago he suffered a notable slip at the Paris Masters, defeated there at the first opportunity by Cameron Norrie. Integrated in the initial phase with Djokovic, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Miñaur, the Murcian exudes the usual optimistic and casual gesture in the preamble.

He wears a chain and a bracelet with black stones – “the time comes some days” -, he is fine – strong and thin, less weight than in previous years – and, in response to the joke, he counterattacks: “The days I was in Murcia, I covered myself up here…”, he says, pointing to his throat. “But that’s it, huh?” This time, without congestion, snot or cough, and a coincidence in the form of a wink: 16 years ago, in the distant 2009, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer also exercised together two days before their debut, also as the first and second in the world, respectively. “Wow! Well, the truth is I had no idea… But this tournament is unique, because here are the eight best and it gives you that opportunity. This isn’t the first time I’ve trained with him nor will it be the last, because we care about each other”, he responds.

Beforehand, the calculations are clear for him: three victories would guarantee him to finish the season in the lead. On the contrary, Sinner has no other choice but to win – just like a year ago – and trust that his opponent doesn’t add what he needs; those 500 points that Alcaraz has between his eyebrows, this one has a good feeling. “Well, I feel very good. Physically we are improving, especially with the ankle problem (the sprain that occurred a month and a half ago in Tokyo), and I feel increasingly calm and free in my movements. We are taking care of ourselves as much as possible to compete with guarantees here and in Davis, and in training I see myself at a good level”, continues El Palmar, willing to correct himself.

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The defeat to Norrie in Paris was a warning, although the atmosphere between that stage and Turin is different. “I think it was something specific. There may have been bad days, but above all it was that, in addition to not playing well that day, the way I tactically approached the game was wrong”, he answers the question asked by EL PAÍS, in the room dedicated to soprano Maria Callas; “I didn’t have a good feeling, I always wanted to go forward and I made a lot of mistakes at the beginning. opinion You need to know what you should train, and I’m putting that into practice nowadays so I can get off to a good start. I’m not worried about this game at all, I simply consider it something specific. “We will try to prevent this from happening again.”

In La Défense he found a surface relatively similar to that of the Inalpi Arena, where Sinner’s endless flight under the record interior —26 consecutive wins since November 2023—inspires more than just respect. No one moves like the Tyrolean on this record. No one has beaten him since Djokovic achieved the feat in the Turin final. From then on, five hidden trophies and the obvious feeling that he is the man to beat. “But I know that if Carlos plays very well I have no chance, regardless of my results”, says the man from San Candido, who reaches the top but will lose that status on Monday, given the update of the list. The points fly and Alcaraz virtually takes command.

Sinner also talks about freedom, about coming together and just being yourself. Corsets out. After all, it is the last match of 2025. “The secret to playing tennis well is trying to be as free as possible”, he explains. “Actually, I always think that I’m number two, so there’s work to do. The numbers are there, but I try to motivate myself in other ways. I know I’m strong on this type of court, but as soon as we relax a little, everything gets complicated”, says the local tennis player, while he and Alcaraz joke and fight in good humor in front of the Royal Garden from Turin, pulling out the trophy one after another. Among them, good friends and rehearsals. “Why not?” says the Spaniard at nightfall, always eager for battle.

He and the other protagonists parade through the historic center impeccably dressed, while lining up for an unusual, anomalous and compromising photo: there are six of them, instead of eight. System failures. Djokovic’s presence in this Saturday’s Athens final (2pm, Movistar+) also coincided with that of Musetti, who, if he wins, would beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fight for the eighth ticket. The Serbian has not yet confirmed his presence – the president of the Italian Federation (FITP) denied it two days ago: “I will decide after the tournament (in Athens)” – and the local player would reach his limit, while the fuchsia neon already stands out over the beauty of Turin, both baroque and neoclassical. new art. In tune, the two of us always.