![\"Carlos](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/alcaraz-kolisi-nitto-atp-finals-2025.jpg\")
<\/p>\n ATP Tour
\n World Cup-winning rugby captain Kolisi weighs in on Alcaraz vs. Sinner: \u2018It\u2019s huge\u2019<\/p>\n
Springbok icon, a friend of Felix and Federer, visits Nitto ATP Finals<\/p>\n
November 16, 2025<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jack Howell\/ATP Tour<\/p>\n
Carlos Alcaraz and South African rugby star Siya Kolisi on Saturday at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
\n By Andy West<\/p>\n
Just like Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> and Jannik Sinner<\/a>, Siya Kolisi enjoyed the taste of victory on Saturday in Turin. <\/p>\n A two-time Rugby World Cup-winning captain with South Africa, Kolisi led the Springboks to a 32-14 victory against Italy at the city\u2019s Allianz Stadium, just as home favourite Sinner was sinking Alex de Minaur<\/a> to book his championship-match spot at the Nitto ATP Finals<\/a>. <\/p>\n A few hours later, Kolisi was inside Inalpi Arena to watch Alcaraz down Felix Auger-Aliassime<\/a> and set a blockbuster title match with his great rival Sinner. It will be the sixth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting between the two in 2025 and Kolisi, who is a big tennis fan, understands the significance of the pair\u2019s rivalry. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very excited. I think it\u2019s huge,\u201d Kolisi told ATPTour.com ahead of Sunday\u2019s final, scheduled for 6 p.m. CET\/noon ET on Sunday. \u201cObviously, Sinner has home advantage here. He\u2019s from here, but I don\u2019t think that\u2019s going to play on Alcaraz\u2019s mind because he is such a powerful player and he showed tonight what he is capable of. It will be great.\u201d <\/p>\n WILD @SiyaKolisi<\/a> reaction to meeting @carlosalcaraz<\/a> for the first time \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02#NittoATPFinals<\/a> | #Kolisi<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/mfRBoSdLtV<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Tour (@atptour) November 15, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n You May Also Like: Final Preview: Alcaraz, Sinner ready for last dance of 2025 at Nitto ATP Finals<\/a><\/p>\n Kolisi first met Alcaraz earlier in the week in Turin and did not hide his excitement at crossing paths with the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. He also finally caught up in person with Auger-Aliassime, with whom he has frequently exchanged messages of support over social media. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was the first time I\u2019ve seen Carlos play live and also the first time I\u2019ve seen Felix play live,\u201d said the 32-year-old Kolisi after witnessing Alcaraz’s 6-2, 6-4 semi-final triumph. \u201cI came to the tournament because of Felix. [He and I] have been talking on social media and supporting each other. We already planned on meeting, and this was the opportunity to meet. <\/p>\n \u201c[The match] was good. It was tough. Alcaraz was very powerful today, but you can\u2019t take away from the effort of Felix as well. Alcaraz deserved the match, but Felix will get up again.\u201d <\/p>\n Auger-Aliassime is not the first tennis star that Kolisi has befriended. He has been close with Roger Federer<\/a> ever since the former World No. 1 came out in support of the Springboks during the 2019 Rugby World Cup (Federer\u2019s mother, Lynette, is from South Africa). The rugby star quoted the Swiss when asked what he most admired about tennis players and the way they compete. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve learned from listening to Roger Federer<\/a> speak,\u201d said Kolisi. \u201cWhen you lose a point, you must forget it and move onto the next one. He says he has lost many points, but he\u2019s won [so many] matches. It\u2019s the ability to move on. You lose a point and then you change your mindset to win the next one. Also when you win one, you can\u2019t dwell on it. Just move onto the next one. This mindset is so strong and powerful.\u201d <\/p>\n Kolisi, who led his country to Rugby World Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2023, has since joined Federer on trips supporting the Roger Federer<\/a> Foundation, which supports early education programmes in six countries including South Africa and Switzerland. However, their friendship has not yet stretched to playing tennis together. Kolisi is willing, but unsure his skills hit the required grade to take to court with a six-time Nitto ATP Finals<\/a> champion. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve tried to play tennis, but I suck,\u201d said Kolisi. \u201cI would love to play [with Roger]. He does a charity match, and I would love to play in it one day. I suck, there\u2019s no other way to put it, but I\u2019ll start somewhere!\u201d <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\nFelix Auger-Aliassime\/Siya Kolisi” style=”width: 100%;” src=”https:\/\/www.atptour.com\/-\/media\/images\/news\/2025\/11\/15\/23\/54\/auger-aliassime-kolisi-nitto-atp-finals-2025.jpg”>
\nFelix Auger-Aliassime<\/a> greets Siya Kolisi on Saturday night at the Nitto ATP Finals<\/a>. Photo Credit: Jack Howell\/ATP Tour <\/p>\n