ATP 2025 review: Alcaraz and Sinner rivalry elevates

‘Sincaraz’ serve up instant Roland-Garros classic

Where else to start?

Alcaraz and Sinner have been the dominant duopoly for the past few seasons and that built to a cinematic crescendo on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

The shot-making was off the charts, the resilience, the lung-bursting rallies, these generational talents pushed each other to their limits. You have to watch the highlights (or the full match) to see it for yourself!

The Spaniard’s Roland-Garros reign appeared to be halting when Sinner neared the title at 5-3 up in the fourth set. Alcaraz roared back with bold, instinctive tennis to save three championship points, before stealing away the box office decider.

The 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6[10-2] immediate classic became the longest Roland-Garros final ever at an astonishing five hours and 29 minutes.

"I just put my heart into it," said Alcaraz, as the first man in the Open Era to prevail in his first five Grand Slam finals, however, all the stats and accolades became irrelevant. This final was one of a kind, it was clay court artistry, competition at its purest, sport at its very finest.

Alcaraz also toppled Sinner in the US Open final as well as the Rome and Cincinnati silverware showdowns. The Murcia native compiled a 71-9 season record, capturing eight titles and regaining the year-end No.1 spot, all achieved with his trademark grin.

It was mightily impressive how Sinner banished the Paris demons. Just 35 days later he gained revenge over Alcaraz to win a maiden Wimbledon title. On top of an ultra-ruthless Australian Open title defence, the Italian moved up to four majors in the trophy cabinet.

Sinner fired a signal of intent to the chasing pack at the tail end of 2025, winning four of his last five tournaments. This culminated with retaining his ATP Finals crown 7-6(4), 7-5 versus, you guessed it, Alcaraz.

‘Sincaraz’ defied 2025, setting the bar for many years to come.

Vacherot serves up miracle victory

The ATP end of season awards hailed Valentin Vacherot the ‘Breakthrough of the Year,’ after the 27-year-old disrupted the established order in Shanghai with a heartwarming family affair.

Vacherot was down at world No.204 heading to China on the off chance of playing. Despite being the ninth qualifying alternate, the Monegasque talisman battled into the main draw and then grasped his opportunity with both hands.

You couldn’t write the script, Vacherot downed Novak Djokovic en route to the final, where he met his cousin Arthur Rinderknech.

The 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 battle was thrilling enough, then Vacherot – the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 champion in history – and Rinderknech added to the occasion with a trophy ceremony including tears, laughter and cramp. The tennis fairtytale of 2025.

Young guns firing into contention

Away from ‘Sincaraz’ a plethora of players were propelling themselves into trophy bouts.

Great Britain’s Jack Draper continued to fulfil his potential with Indian Wells glory. Also on the ‘Sunshine Swing,’ Jakub Mensik became a Masters champion in Miami.

Team USA powerhouse Ben Shelton earned his Masters title breakthrough in Toronto as a significant step for making his ATP Finals debut. Speaking of Canada, Félix Auger-Aliassime soared back into the spotlight with a trio of titles and also qualified for Turin.

Itay’s Flavio Cobolli, who was an integral factor in his country’s Davis Cup title defence in November, lifted two titles, Joao Fonseca drew in vibrant and vocal crowds across the globe with a brace of titles too.

Bublik brilliance makes it to primetime

No one caused a stir quite like Alexander Bublik. The ultimate disruptor was close to quitting tennis, until his coach suggested a party trip to Las Vegas in March.

Blowing off some steam more than worked as Bublik unleashed his unpredictable firepower throughout the remainder of the year.

Take his Roland-Garros campaign, the mercurial Kazakh reeled in Top 10 talent Alex de Minaur from two-sets down. Into the Last 16 and Bublik rocketed 68 winners, including 37 drop shots and 19 volleyed finishers, during an exhibition of touch and feel to defy No.5 seed Draper and move into a maiden Grand Slam quarter-final.

An emotional Bublik told the raucous crowd; “Sometimes in life there is only one chance… I couldn't let it slip. Standing here is the best moment of my life - period.”

Novak the centurion

Another year and yet more Djokovic history making.

The Serbian has pretty much done it all, yet in 2025 the 38-year-old chalked off another milestone with his 100th career title, joining Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer as the only men to achieve the immense feat. He went to three figures in Geneva and actually moved to No.101 in Athens at the end of his campaign.

The Alcaraz-Sinner dominance overshadowed the major excellence of Djokovic, who reached the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams. An unprecedented major No.25 didn’t quite arrive, perhaps 2026 will be his time?