Jannik Sinner arrives at the ATP Finals in Turin as the favorite to capture his first title at this prestigious season-ending tournament, capping off what has been an extraordinary year for the Italian star. Sinner’s 2024 has been marked by his first Grand Slam victories at both the Australian Open and the US Open, as well as five additional ATP titles, which catapulted him to the world No. 1 ranking. He’s also become a national hero, breaking Italy's 48-year drought for a men's Slam title and becoming the country's first male player to achieve the top spot.

Sinner leads the "Race to Turin" standings by a significant margin, with over 10,330 points, a testament to his dominance throughout the season. His nearest rival, Alexander Zverev, trails by more than 3,000 points. However, Sinner’s year has not been without controversy. He twice tested positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March. While initially cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has since appealed the decision, seeking a ban of up to two years. Sinner, who has denied any wrongdoing, has stated, “It’s not a pleasurable situation to be in, but we remain optimists.”

The 23-year-old’s fans in Turin are eagerly anticipating another chapter in his growing rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz, who also claimed two Grand Slam titles in 2024 by defending his Wimbledon title and winning his first Roland Garros. Sinner and Alcaraz, seen as the new faces of men’s tennis, will both compete in Turin but in separate groups. Alcaraz, seeking his first ATP Finals crown, is set to face Casper Ruud in the John Newcombe Group on Monday, while Sinner will start against Finals debutant Alex de Minaur in the Ilie Nastase Group on Sunday night.

For the first time since 2001, none of the "Big Four" will be present at the ATP Finals. Novak Djokovic, who withdrew due to an ongoing injury, will miss out on adding another ATP title to his collection, though he secured Olympic gold in Paris earlier this year. His absence underscores the gradual shift to a new generation of players like Sinner and Alcaraz, who look poised to shape the future of men’s tennis.

Fans of both Sinner and Alcaraz will have to wait for a potential showdown in the knockout rounds, adding to the anticipation as both pursue the prestigious ATP Finalstrophy.