DEFENDING CHAMPION SINNER UP AND RUNNING AS AUGER-ALIASSIME’S CHALLENGE FADES
Jannik Sinner got his ATP Tour Finals title defence off to a solid start with victory over a struggling Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The Italian delighted the Turin crowd as he posted a 7-5 6-1 win in one hour and 40 minutes after the Canadian was hampered by a leg issue at the end of the opening set.
It saw the second seed extend his winning streak indoors to 27 matches and secure a fourth straight triumph over his opponent in 2025.
Auger-Aliassime, who had narrowly lost to the four-time major winner at the Paris Masters last week, went toe-to-toe with the Italian early on and then demonstrated real grit to fend off two break points in a 10-minute examination of his serve in the sixth game.
However, the eighth seed wobbled at the business end of what proved to be a 58-minute opener and after saving a set point at 4-5 and another one at 5-6, he finally buckled on a third with a timid slice into the net.
The Canadian appeared troubled by an issue in his left leg in that final game and laboured as Sinner broke early in the second stanza to lead 3-0.
Auger-Aliassime belatedly saw the physio, but it did little to improve his movement as Sinner raced clear to extend his record at the event to 11-2 and leave question marks over whether we will see the eighth seed again this week.
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