Sinner Reigns Supreme Again: Paris Masters Champion and World No.1
Jannik Sinner has reclaimed his throne atop men’s tennis, capturing the Paris Masters title and returning to the world No.1 ranking with a commanding 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over tenth-ranked Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Dominant First Set: Sinner’s Clear Superiority
From the opening games, it was unclear how Auger-Aliassime could make this match competitive. Sinner simply outperformed the Canadian in every department, establishing immediate control.
The Backhand Battle: Sinner’s Weapon vs Auger-Aliassime’s Weakness
Sinner held a massive advantage in backhand exchanges. Facing Auger-Aliassime’s obvious weakness on the left side, the Italian deployed the tour’s best backhand with devastating effect. Sinner’s two-handed shots registered 15 km/h faster than his opponent’s, producing precise, whip-like winners that consistently pressured the Canadian.
Neutralizing Auger-Aliassime’s Weapons
While Auger-Aliassime’s primary weapons are his serve and forehand, he faced the tour’s best returner in Sinner. The Italian constantly pressured the Canadian’s serve, breaking him in the very first game and maintaining that advantage throughout the opening set.
Sinner’s Superior Firepower and Court Intelligence
Even when Auger-Aliassime mounted attacks, Sinner demonstrated exceptional reading of the game and neutralizing skills. More importantly, Sinner’s own forehand and attacking game proved superior, particularly in Paris conditions.
Throughout the tournament, Sinner’s forehand registered a quality coefficient of 9.1, significantly above the tour average of 7.5 and his own yearly average of 8.8. During the first set, he elevated this even further, reaching an impressive 9.5 rating.
Elevated Touch and Tactical Variety
Sinner has genuinely added subtlety to his game. One stunning combination saw him execute a delicate half-volley followed by handling an incredibly difficult bounce off the net cord with a perfect lob to the baseline. Though Auger-Aliassime retrieved the ball, he couldn’t convert the opportunity.
Another sequence blended Sinner’s trademark power and whip-like forehand with newly acquired willingness to shorten points and create unexpected angles.
Serving at the Highest Level
After struggling with his serve post-Wimbledon, Sinner now delivers at an elite level. In the first set alone, he lost only three points on serve. Throughout the match, Auger-Aliassime’s closest approach to a break came at 40-40 in just one game.
Second Set Resistance: Auger-Aliassime’s Fighting Spirit
The first set required extraordinary effort from Auger-Aliassime just to stay within reach of Sinner. Overtaking or even catching the Italian seemed impossible. However, the second set demonstrated the Canadian’s capacity to fight back.
Auger-Aliassime had to reach—and perhaps exceed—his peak capabilities to survive under constant pressure. He showed he currently possesses both the game and character to withstand such challenges.
In the second set, he saved five break points across two different games. The most critical moment came at 3-3 when Sinner began with a magnificent return.
Momentum Shifts and Physical Questions
The pressure clearly rattled Auger-Aliassime, leading to errors, but he handled three break points with exceptional quality. He elevated his serving—particularly effective when directing balls at the body—and attack to new levels.
As Sinner dropped from magnificent to merely very powerful, the Canadian even created opportunities. With Sinner occasionally grimacing, grabbing his thigh, and looking fatigued between points, questions arose about his physical condition if Auger-Aliassime forced a deciding set.
Ultimately, Sinner never had to answer those questions. Auger-Aliassime’s valiant effort fell just short, cementing Sinner’s return to the pinnacle of men’s tennis—at least for this week, with the promise of more to come.
