Sincaraz Takes Turin: ATP Finals Recap, Doubles Storylines & a Davis Cup Send-Off
The ATP Finals in Turin are officially in the books, and for once the script actually played out the way everyone imagined: Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz for the title. But as I talked through in this week’s mini-pod, the real magic of this ATP Finals wasn’t just the final—it was the journey that got us there.
Once the race for the last few qualifying spots finally settled, this year’s top eight delivered a genuinely fun, varied week of tennis. Ben Shelton arrived in Turin still dealing with the after-effects of his US Open injury and never quite looked like the heat-check showman we’re used to. Taylor Fritz, meanwhile, reminded us how quietly strong his season has been, pushing Alcaraz harder than anyone in the group stages before his body gave out against Alex de Minaur. If I’m power-ranking 2025, Fritz is right up there behind Sinner and Alcaraz, even if the year-end finals didn’t give him the ending he deserved.
At the other end of the spectrum were the last men in: Lorenzo Musetti and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Musetti squeezed in at the very last minute after that exhausting run in Athens, and I’ll be honest—I didn’t expect him to have much left. Instead, he showed up at home in Italy and actually played, flashing that one-handed backhand in full flow and soaking in every second. The joy on his face after getting a win in Turin told you everything about what this season-ending push meant.
Then there was FAA. Two titles early in the year, a steady climb through the rankings, another strong indoor swing and a US Open semi later, he’s back up to world No. 5. None of that happened by accident. This week’s episode dives into why his “resurgence” didn’t come from nowhere, why he might be best positioned to crash the Sincaraz party in 2026, and why I loved hearing his very different, very grounded answers in press about the length of the season and player burnout.
Of course, we can’t talk about Turin without touching on Alexander Zverev and the “Lost Boys” generation. There’s a reason I called him one of the most unclutch players on tour right now. Once again, he arrived at a huge event with ranking points that say “No. 3 in the world” but performances that suggest he’s a lot closer to the chasing pack. In the episode, I break down how his big-match record compares to Sinner and Alcaraz, and why players like De Minaur are managing to reflect, adjust, and rebound in ways he simply hasn’t this season.
On the Sincaraz front, this felt like the hard launch. Sinner’s undefeated indoor streak continues, powered by Turin’s Davis Cup-level crowd energy. Alcaraz secured year-end No. 1 and still pushed Sinner harder than anyone, even as Jannik cruised through the rest of the field. From the hallway high-fives to speeches in each other’s languages to that upcoming joint exhibition in Korea, this week pushed their rivalry into full Fedal-style lore, with everyone else cast as supporting players.
The doubles event more than held its own, too. Between Emporio Armani walkouts from Bolelli/Vavassori and Arevalo/Pavic in futuristic sunglasses and the baby-shark toy shades from Krawietz/Pütz, Turin quietly became a runway for doubles fashion. Patten and Heliovaara—Double H and friends of the pod—capped off a brilliant season by completing the set with the year-end title, while Evan King and Chris Harrison’s unlikely journey from qualifying wild cards to the ATP Finals came to an emotional close as they announced they’re splitting for next season. In the episode, I talk through what their season says about doubles, why partnerships are so fragile, and what’s next for both players.
To wrap things up, we look ahead. The Davis Cup in Bologna is the last big stop on the calendar, and there are still plenty of big names suiting up for their countries. I run through the match-ups, the key players (yes, including Carlos if he’s healthy enough to go), and the growing conversation about whether the competition should move to a two-year cycle to feel more like a true World Cup of tennis. We also touch on the newly released United Cup draw—my favourite event of the year and a perfect January reset with mixed-team chaos, star power and a genuine sense of team identity.
Finally, I end this week’s episode with a few things to check out if you’re craving more tennis in your ears: Andy Murray’s brilliantly funny appearance on The Ramesh Ranganathan Show, the latest Player Box podcast episode breaking down WTA Finals photo shoot drama from the players’ perspective, and the happy news of Ons Jabeur announcing she’s expecting a baby.
As always, if you enjoy Ground Pass, it would mean the world if you left a rating or review on your podcast app—especially if you’re one of the three people who can help us get to 20 ratings on Apple Podcasts. And if you want more on FAA’s season and why I think he’s the “indoor prince,” don’t miss the latest Match Stories video on our channels.
