Sinner Strikes Paris with a Masterclass as Rybakina Shines in Riyadh: A Tennis Weekend to Remember
1 November 2025
Paris Semifinal: Sinner Stages a Masterclass Against Zverev
Italian star Jannik Sinner reached his first Paris Masters final on Saturday by dismantling German Alexander Zverev, who looked hampered by fitness issues, in straight sets, 6-0 6-1. The 22-year-old prodigy was relentless from start to finish, firing 23 winners to only 12 unforced errors and improving his head-to-head against Zverev to 5-4.
Zverev, the defending Paris champion, had narrowly survived two match points to beat Daniil Medvedev yesterday but struggled with movement and pace, particularly in the closing stages of the semi-final.
After the match, Sinner acknowledged the physical test his opponent faced: “When your fitness dips, you can’t find the full power in your serve. I’m happy to be in the final, but you don’t want to reach here under those conditions. Playing Sasha is always special, and today it was clear he wasn’t at one hundred percent.”
He added: “He was dealing with physical strain. He had a great match yesterday and saved a couple of points against Medvedev, but today he found it hard to move. Still, it’s an incredible run for him and we all hope he’s fit for Turin.”
Final Countdown and Championship Outlook
With a 25-match indoor hard-court winning streak in the bag, Sinner booked a final against Felix Auger-Aliassime, marking his ninth Masters 1000 final this year and his third of the season after Rome and Cincinnati. The Italian is now only 100 points adrift of Carlos Alcaraz in the live rankings and would reclaim No. 1 with the title on Sunday.
The two youngest finalists in this year’s Masters 1000 showpiece are tied 2-2 in their head-to-head, following Sinner’s wins in Cincinnati and at the US Open this year. Sinner commented on Auger-Aliassime: “He’s playing unbelievable tennis right now and has improved a lot in recent months. I’m looking forward to tomorrow; it’s a great matchup for both of us, and Felix is one of the nicest guys on tour. It will be a tough match.”
Statistical Surge
Sinner has reached the final in nine of 11 events this year, including Australian Open and Wimbledon titles; this marks the second straight year he has reached nine finals. He also sits at the top of 2025’s wins against top-10 opponents (13 wins) and became the first player to win the opening set 6-0 in a Masters semifinal since Rafael Nadal in Madrid in 2013, per Opta.
Since the Masters shifted to indoor hard courts in 2007, Sinner has become the third player to reach the final without dropping a single set, joining Roger Federer (2011) and Djokovic (2014, 2019).
The Finals
The women’s action in Riyadh began with Elena Rybakina, seeded sixth, overpowering Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-1 in 57 minutes to start her campaign, as Iga Swiatek also posted a win earlier in the day over Madison Keys. Rybakina’s performance instantly established her as a leading force at the year-end championships, with Swiatek already among the morning’s winners, signaling an exciting week ahead.
Rybakina’s victory also marked her continuation of strong form heading into the finals, with the Kazakh star hoping to add another marquee title to her season. The day’s results left fans eager for what promises to be a riveting weekend of tennis at two of the sport’s most prestigious events.
Two lighthearted notes to end: 1) If this keeps up, Sinner’s serve might start charging rent to the ball for how often it’s returning winners. 2) If confidence could be bagged as a souvenir, Rybakina would be checking out with a full suitcase after day one in Riyadh.
