10 November 2026 |Swoosh0018

Carlos Alcaraz has just beaten Ben Shelton in Paris. I’d happily watch them do it all again in Turin. Shelton had six break points in the first set of Sunday’s final and couldn’t take one. Alcaraz won 7–6(5), 7–5, two months after Shelton knocked him out of the US Open. If Thursday’s draw puts them in the same group, that’s the match I’m clearing my evening for. Paris Masters final report

The ATP Finals run from 15 to 22 November on indoor hard courts at Turin’s Inalpi Arena. Jannik Sinner, the champion in each of the past two years, is out with a knee injury. The eight-man field is Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, Arthur Fils, Frances Tiafoe and Rafael Jodar. They’ll be split into two groups of four on Thursday, 12 November, with the top two from each group going through to Saturday’s semi-finals. The final is on Sunday, 22 November.

Alcaraz has the form. Zverev has the record.

Alcaraz lost last year’s Turin final to Sinner and is still chasing his first ATP Finals title. What I liked about his Paris win was how willing he was to hang in there when Shelton’s serve was doing most of the talking. He kept getting returns into play and made Shelton hit another ball under pressure. That patience could matter just as much in Turin as anything he does with his forehand. Paris Masters final report · 2025 Turin final

Zverev arrives as world No. 1 and has already won this event twice. His first serve and backhand give him two reliable ways to take control indoors. Then there’s Medvedev, the 2020 champion, back after missing last year’s edition. He beat Alcaraz at Indian Wells this season, and I’d be curious to see how that match plays out indoors. The deeper Medvedev stands to return, the more room Alcaraz has to bring him forward. Turin field · Medvedev’s season

Four first-timers worth watching

Flavio Cobolli gives the home crowd an Italian to get behind in singles. He reached the Roland Garros final this year, and I’m curious to see what he does with that crowd behind him in a tight third set. Arthur Fils beat Frances Tiafoe to win Cincinnati, so there’s another rematch I’d take. Tiafoe’s willingness to come forward could make that one especially fun indoors. Cobolli’s season · Fils’s season

And how about Rafael Jodar? A year ago he was playing college tennis at the University of Virginia. Now he’s in Turin because Alcaraz beat Taylor Fritz in Paris and opened the door for him to take the last spot. The round-robin format gives him three group matches, so even a rough opener leaves him time to settle in. Jodar’s qualification

My pick

Alcaraz to win it, with Shelton the player I’d least like to see in his group. A lefty serve that can drag you off the court is a headache anywhere. Indoors, where Shelton can hit his spots without worrying about the wind, a couple of loose return games can be enough to cost you a set. Paris was close enough that I’d love to see how Alcaraz handles a second go at it.

Author: swoosh0018

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