The world’s top two are training together ahead of the ATP Finals in front of fans. The Italian confirms his positive form

The first head-to-head, ahead of the match everyone is predicting in the final round of the ATP Finals, when their showdown will decide not only the tournament champion but also the top spot in the rankings at the end of the season. Sinner and Alcaraz face off, but this time only in practice—and yet it’s already a big deal that the world’s number one and number two are sharing the same court for a sparring session.

The first round takes place on the court set up in the foyer of the Inalpi Arena, with no spectators other than journalists and staff members putting the finishing touches on the lounges. Alcaraz arrives right on time at 11 a.m., chatting amiably with Darren Cahill, his rival’s Australian coach, while Sinner shows up a few minutes later. Greetings and hugs between the teams—a sign of respect that goes beyond their rivalry—and a joke about golf, one of their shared favorite pastimes, ensue when Jannik laughs as he announces he’ll switch from a right-handed to a left-handed swing, and Ferrero, Carlos’s coach, replies that people will then have to start fearing him with a golf club as well. After a few low-intensity exchanges, the ball’s speed picks up, and in this essentially sterile setting, the crack of the balls is impressive. The session unfolds like an extended warm-up: first, they both hit forehands, then they try backhand cross-courts, and finally they take turns at the net—all under the watchful eyes of their coaches, who offer advice here and there. The funniest moment comes when Sinner wins the battle of the sliced backhands—a shot that, on paper, favors the Spaniard—and even draws a good-natured cheer from Darren Cahill.

It’s getting serious—  After an hour on the practice court, the circuit’s top players head to Center Court for the “high noon” showdown (though perhaps a bit less intense): Waiting for them are 3,000–4,000 spectators, mostly schoolchildren, who—with a 35-euro ticket—can still enjoy many of their favorite champions, since Auger-Aliassime and Shelton have already trained, and Zverev and de Minaur will do so later. A few rallies to warm up and get back into the groove, and Sinner and Alcaraz are ready to stage a real set. Of course, the drama of competitive tension is missing, but the two are still going at it with everything they’ve got. Jannik, once again, proves he’s perfectly at ease on the fast Turin court where he triumphed a year ago, and he generates impressive speed on every shot—often throwing the Spaniard off his game. With control firmly in his hands, the world No. 1 can even afford to hit some delightful drop shots that have the crowd on the edge of their seats. The set ends 6-3 for the Italian, but since there’s still a little time left, the two decide to play a tiebreak as well, which this time goes (7-3) to Alcaraz, who managed to get back on track. In the end, a heartfelt embrace on the court seals a friendship untarnished by rivalry: the next match is set for next Sunday. The final the whole world is waiting for.