For the first time in years, the ATP Finals start without a clear favourite. Jannik Sinner, champion in Turin in 2024 and 2025, is out for the rest of the season, which leaves the title open when play begins on November 15.
The eight-man field mixes two former champions with four players who have never played the season finale. That blend is why this edition is worth watching even for casual fans.
Key Takeaways
- The tournament runs November 15 to 22 at the Inalpi Arena in Turin
- Field: Zverev, Alcaraz, Shelton, Medvedev, Cobolli, Fils, Tiafoe and Jodar
- Four players are debutants; Zverev and Medvedev are former champions
- Sinner, the two-time defending champion, is out for the rest of 2026
Who qualified
The final place went to Spain's Rafael Jodar after the Paris Masters, as the ATP confirmed. He joins Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, Arthur Fils and Frances Tiafoe.
The ATP points out that Zverev (2018 and 2021) and Medvedev (2020) are the only former singles champions in the field. Jodar qualifies just a year after playing the Next Gen ATP Finals.
Why Sinner's absence changes everything
The ATP's final standings in the race to Turin list Sinner second with 7,950 points, marked out for the rest of 2026. Global Game Guide reports he has not played since winning Wimbledon in July and is targeting a return in 2027.
His absence removes the player who won the last two titles in Turin without dropping a set in the 2025 final. A new champion is guaranteed unless Zverev or Medvedev, the only past winners in the field, lift the trophy again.
The players to watch
Zverev arrives as the race leader on 9,350 points, per the ATP's race standings. Alcaraz is the biggest name still chasing his first Turin title.
Home fans have a story too. Cobolli is the fourth active Italian to play the season finale on home soil, keeping a streak of four straight years with an Italian in the singles field. And with Shelton and Tiafoe both in, the ATP notes it is the second straight year two Americans have qualified.
How the tournament works
- Eight players split into two groups of four and play round-robin matches.
- The top two in each group reach the semi-finals.
- Semi-final winners meet in the final on November 22.
- Because every group match counts, one bad day rarely ends a player's week.
Round-robin events reward consistency, which suits Zverev and Medvedev. Debut weeks are unpredictable, which is exactly the threat Fils and Jodar pose.
Whoever wins, this edition offers a preview of the next era: a tour where the top spot is contested, not owned.
Cover photo: Bruce The Deus, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Reader Discussion