Title winners
Jannik Sinner sensationally returned to the top of the ATP rankings ahead of the year-end Finals in Turin after beating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-6(4) in a high-quality final at the Paris Masters.
The Italian’s maiden title in the French capital, coupled with Carlos Alcaraz’s shock early exit at the tournament, saw the 24-year-old reclaim the number one ranking from the Spaniard.
Sinner - who prior to the tournament said it would be “impossible” for him to finish 2025 at the pinnacle of men’s tennis - was in a class of his own in Paris, thrashing Alexander Zverev for the loss of just a single game in the semi-finals before proving too strong for Auger-Aliassime in the showpiece.
Sunday’s victory was the Italian’s first 1000-level title since Shanghai in October 2024, and extended his remarkable record on indoor hard courts to 26 consecutive wins.
It’s the perfect preparation for Sinner as he looks to go back-to-back in Turin next week, although with significantly more points to defend than Alcaraz - who exited last year’s Finals in the group stage - the Italian is fully aware it remains a tall order to secure the year-end number one spot.
As for the beaten finalist, Auger-Aliassime, his incredible run of form since the summer has now put him in pole position ahead of Lorenzo Musetti to secure the final qualification place at the prestigious Finals.
Read more: Sinner downs Auger-Alassime in Paris
Elsewhere, Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko claimed her second career title after a battling 7-5, 6-7(9), 6-2 victory over Cristina Bucsa in the Hong Kong showpiece.
The 19-year-old beat Alexandra Eala, Anna Kalinskaya and compatriot Leylah Fernandez en route to the final, and despite spurning a match point in a 65-minute second set against Bucsa, regrouped impressively to take the crown.
Mboko, who started the year as low as 333 in the world, is now up to 18th in the rankings.
There were also titles for Anna Blinkova and Janice Tjen in Jiujiang and Chennai, respectively, with the latter becoming the first Indonesian player to win a WTA singles title since Angelique Widjaja in 2002.
Biggest strugglers
It’s not often you’ll find six-time major champion Alcaraz in this section of the Base Line, but the Spaniard was left to rue his surprise second-round defeat to Cameron Norrie in Paris, with it opening the door for Sinner to reclaim top spot in the ATP rankings.
Having enjoyed the most consistent year of his career to date, winning eight titles while suffering very few early exits, Alcaraz slipped into some of his old habits against Norrie, producing a below-par showing in both sets two and three.
The Brit needed no further encouragement and duly punished the US Open champion, who will be keen to bounce back as soon as possible, with the ATP Finals and Davis Cup Finals taking place in November.
Meanwhile, on the WTA Tour, it was a disappointing tournament for Sofia Kenin in Hong Kong, with the American falling at the first hurdle to Japan’s Himeno Sakatsume.
Having reached the last four in Tokyo the week before, fourth-seeded Kenin was among the favourites for the title in Hong Kong, but the 26-year-old was soundly beaten 6-2, 6-1 by Sakatsume in just 67 minutes.
Standout moment
Competing in the first WTA main draw of her career, 17-year-old wildcard Lilli Tagger enjoyed a fairytale run in Jiujiang, overcoming several higher-ranked opponents to reach the final.
Having seen off Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Tamara Korpatsch earlier in the tournament, the Austrian pulled off a stunning comeback victory against Viktorija Golubic in the semi-finals, recovering from a 5-2 deficit in the third set and triple match point down to prevail 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.
In the process, she became the first 2008-born player to reach a WTA final, as well as being both the youngest and lowest-ranked WTA finalist of 2025.
Although Tagger ultimately came up short in the showpiece against Blinkova, she is now up to world number 156 in the updated rankings, and is certainly one to watch in the future!
Best rallies
Norrie demonstrated his impressive athleticism with this stunning passing-shot winner against Alcaraz in Paris.
Sinner was at his imperious best throughout the Paris Masters, including in this point against Auger-Aliassime in the final.
Upcoming events
The headline action this week comes in Riyadh, where the top eight women in the world battle it out for the prestigious WTA Finals crown.
The tournament got underway over the weekend, with Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina registering wins in the Serena Williams Group, while on Sunday, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula were victorious in the Stefanie Graf Group.
The group-stage matches continue from Monday until Thursday, and with Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini, Amanda Anisimova and Madison Keys all looking to fight their way back into contention, it promises to be a thrilling week in the Middle East.
Elsewhere, there are a couple of ATP 250 events in Metz and Athens, with Auger-Aliassime and Musetti both in action as they look to secure the final qualification spot for next week’s ATP Finals in Turin.
The Canadian is in pole position after his run to the Paris showpiece, while Musetti must win the title in Athens if he is to qualify for the year-end event for the first time.
Check out the full draws in Metz and Athens via the links.
