A dark cloud hung over Alex de Minaur’s match against Jannik Sinner in Turin. Every shot felt heavier, every point harder to win, as Sinner broke late in the first set and then pulled away to complete a 7-5, 6-2 victory – his 13th straight win over the Australian in the first semi-final. With this win, Sinner reaches the ATP Finals final, while De Minaur is now out of contention at the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals. Yet amid the heavy loss, a small, unexpected moment caught everyone’s attention.

At the start, De Minaur held his serve and looked competitive. Through the first ten games, the match was relatively even. The turning point came in the 11th game of the first set, when Sinner broke De Minaur’s serve with a sharp backhand return to take the set 7‑5. But the drama wasn’t over, as the second set would quickly swing in Sinner’s favor.

In the second set, Sinner surged early, winning the first four games. Then, Alex de Minaur finally got on the board. After winning a single game to make it 1‑4, he gave a tiny, self-aware fist pump- gesture that caught the commentators’ attention. The commentators immediately remarked: “De Minaur with a self-deprecating fist in the air as he gets on board.” But Sinner quickly regained control, closing out the set 6‑2 as his level rose and De Minaur struggled to respond.

Despite the loss, Sinner praised his opponent: “It was a very tough match, especially at the beginning of the first set. I felt like he was serving great, very precise. In the second set, I broke very early and then my level rose.” Nevertheless, there were times when DeMinaur displayed his fighting spirit despite losing.

Although Alex de Minaur’s surge to 0/40 in Sinner’s opening service game momentarily silenced the home crowd, he was unable to convert. The World No. 2 then waited, searching for gaps and never turning around. While De Minaur is now out of the tournament, he still made history with a season that marked clear milestones in his career.

Alex de Minaur exits with pride, while Jannik Sinner awaits the next challenge

For Alex de Minaur, the defeat bookends an otherwise standout year. The Australian finishes with a 56‑24 record, surpassing 50 wins in a season for the first time. His lone title of 2025 came at the ATP 500 event in Washington. Even as he exits the Nitto ATP Finals, de Minaur’s performance this year shows hisgrowth on the tour. Sinner, in the meantime, is confronted with a new challenge.

The second seed is hoping to add to his trophy when he comes face-to-face with Carlos Alcaraz or Felix Auger-Aliassime in the title match on Sunday. After the perfect 3-0 round-robin stage concluded, and Alcaraz, who was competing in his first trophy in the annual end event, received the ATP Year-End No. 1 honors award by PIF, dethroning Sinner in his quest to win the top spot.

Sure, titles and rankings mean a lot, but the fact that Sinner is supreme on indoor courts speaks volumes. With the season almost over, Alex de Minaur is able to look back at Turin with a year that has seen him expand as a player, and Sinner is on the march and is in the mind that is determined to win even more silverware.