Jannik Sinner delivered a stunning performance in Turin to defend his ATP Finals title, defeating his great rival Carlos Alcaraz in a straight-sets victory of intense quality. The 7-6(4), 7-5 win before a raucous home crowd was a fitting conclusion to a season dominated by the two, but the final’s most significant record was set not on the court, but in living rooms across the country.

As reported by Olly Tennis on X, the broadcast made history, with reports showing it was the most-watched tennis match in Italian television history, drawing over 6,789,000 viewers. The match itself was a showcase of the highest level of tennis, now synonymous with the rivalry that dominates the sport. Sinner, the world No. 2, saved a critical set point at 5-6 in the first set with what his opponent later described as a surprising 190 km/h second serve. He then sealed a tight first set in a tie-break, lifting the roof off the Inalpi Arena with two stunning lobs over a net-rushing Alcaraz.

The Spaniard, who had his right thigh taped after a medical timeout, broke Jannik Sinner’s serve early in the second set but could not maintain the lead. Sinner broke back and, with the Italian crowd passionately behind him, closed out the match after two hours and fifteen minutes, falling to his back in relief. The victory extended his remarkable unbeaten streak on indoor hard courts to 31 matches and marked his tenth consecutive win at the season-ending tournament.

This historic television audience is the culmination of a year that has seen Sinner’s matches consistently draw massive ratings in Italy, reflecting his status as a national icon. As Italian pop icon Gianni Morandi told Sinner after the match, “In Italy there’s Ferrari, Armani and you.“

Earlier in the tournament, his debut match had already attracted 2.27 million viewers, a figure that surpassed the high-profile Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Napoli shown on a subscription channel that same day. A big milestone in soccer-mad Italy, considering it was a match between the league leaders, Inter, and 4th-placed Napoli.

Furthermore, the Rome Masters Sincaraz final in May had already demonstrated the immense pulling power of their rivalry, drawing an average of 4,885,000 viewers on the free-to-air channel Rai 1. The fact that a tennis match could achieve a 38% share in Rome, surpassing the finale of a popular show like Amici, was a clear indicator of the tennis’ booming popularity courtesy of one Jannik Sinner.

The reported 6.78 million viewers for the ATP Finals final shatters that previous record, underscoring an unprecedented level of public engagement. This record-breaking viewership signifies more than just the popularity of a single match; it highlights a possible shift in the Italian sports landscape long dominated by football. Not only that, but Sinner equaled another record with his victory in Turin.

Jannik Sinner is making moves in tennis history

Not only did Jannik Sinner snag the sport’s biggest trophy after a Grand Slam for the second year in a row, but he also made history by becoming the youngest player to defend the season-ending championship since a 23-year-old Roger Federer did it back in 2004. He won the tournament without dropping a single set, which is impressive.

Plus, he matched another one of Federer’s long-standing records, which was being the youngest player to reach the finals of all five major tournaments in a single year. He’s now also the first player to do it before turning 25.

Sinner’s achievements caught the attention of some big names in the tennis world. Brad Gilbert, who used to coach Coco Gauff, gave a shout-out to the Italian, saying, “Unbelievable effort from Sin City wins yearend ATP Tour championships back to back years without dropping a set, finishes the year on 3 straight indoor titles trophy.”

His quick praise really shows just how impressive Jannik Sinner’s perfect run in Turin was. By winning the title without losing a set for the second year in a row, Sinner has now joined Novak Djokovic as just the second man to pull this off at the ATP Finals. So, Sinner’s win against Alcaraz really wrapped up the season nicely, didn’t it? It definitely highlighted their rivalry as the main story in men’s tennis this year.