Jannik Sinner Dominates Felix Auger-Aliassime At Nitto ATP Finals
It was supposed to be a heavyweight clash to kick off the Nitto ATP Finals. Instead, it felt more like a sparring session with one fighter nursing a leg injury from the opening bell. Jannik Sinner, the defending champion and hometown hero, did what he had to do, dispatching a clearly hampered Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 6-1 in a match that lost its competitive fire far too early.
What Happened To Auger-Aliassime?
The first set was a genuine battle, a proper tug-of-war. Both guys were hammering serves and trading blows from the baseline. Auger-Aliassime even fought off a set point at 5-4, showing the kind of grit that got him to this elite eight-man tournament. But then, serving at 5-6, disaster struck. Auger-Aliassime pulled up, a grimace painting a painful picture. His left leg, which had already forced him out of a tournament last week, had betrayed him again.
From that moment on, it was a one-man show. Auger-Aliassime, to his immense credit, refused to quit. The guy has the heart of a warrior. He took a medical timeout, got his calf worked on, and limped back onto the court to face the music. But against a player of Sinner’s caliber, on his favorite indoor hardcourt surface, playing on one good leg is a death sentence. The second set was a brisk 6-1 affair that felt more like a formality than a fight.
What Does This Mean For Jannik Sinner?
For Sinner, it’s a win, and in this round-robin format, you take them any way you can get them. He extended his ridiculous indoor winning streak to 27 matches and kept his dream of snatching the year-end No. 1 ranking from Carlos Alcaraz alive. But you could tell even he felt a little hollow about it. “First of all, I hope Felix is going to recover,” Sinner said, showing his class. “Winning the first match is very important… I’m happy about my performance.”
He should be. Sinner was a buzzsaw on his first serve, winning a staggering 89% of those points. He did what champions do: he saw an opponent in distress and clinically put the match away without any drama. It wasn’t the epic he or the fans wanted, but it’s a crucial first step in his title defense.
As for Auger-Aliassime, you have to feel for the guy. He fought his way here, only for his body to let him down on the biggest stage. His chances of advancing now look slim, but the respect he earned for gutting it out is immeasurable. The hope now is that it’s nothing serious, and he can get back to 100% for the next battle.
