The draw for the ATP Finals 2025 groups took place this Thursday in Turin, Italy, bringing together the eight best tennis players of the season for the tournament that starts on Sunday. Carlos Alcaraz, current number 1 in the world, heads the Jimmy Connors Group alongside Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur. Jannik Sinner, defending title, leads the Bjorn Borg Group with Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton and the eighth seed, still undecided between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Lorenzo Musetti.
The competition, played at Inalpi Arena, offers 1,500 points to the champion and a total prize of US$15.5 million, with the undefeated winner being able to earn up to US$5.07 million. Alcaraz and Sinner compete for the number 1 spot at the end of the year, with the Spaniard needing victories in the group stage to confirm his leadership.
The groups follow a round-robin format, with the best two from each advancing to the semi-finals. Djokovic, seven-time champion of the event, participates for the 18th time, equaling Roger Federer’s record.
Draw rules ensure balance in the initial phase
The group division process considers the Race to Turin ranking, which prioritizes results from the current season. Alcaraz, with a 1,050 point lead over Sinner after added time, takes over as number 1 seed.
Sinner, despite evenual leader, falls to second place due to the 1,500 points lost from the 2024 title. Zverev and Djokovic, in third and fourth place, are in separate baskets, as are Fritz and Shelton in the following.
- Key heads 1 and 2 (Alcaraz and Sinner) fixed in opposite groups.
- Pairs 3-4 and 5-6 drawn to avoid early clashes between favorites.
- The eighth place depends on the ATP 250 in Athens, where Musetti faces rivals to overtake Auger-Aliassime.
This structure aims to distribute talent and increase the chances of balanced duels in the semifinals.
Fight for number 1 boosts favorites in Turin
Alcaraz has an advantage in the race for the top of the rankings, but Sinner needs to win the tournament to reverse the situation. The Spaniard secures his place with three victories in the group stage or by reaching the final with at least one initial victory.
Djokovic, absent in 2024 due to injury, is seeking his eighth title in indoor conditions that favor his game. Zverev, two-time champion in 2018 and 2021, has 30 Grand Slam titles with Alcaraz in the Connors Group, echoing the 2019 clash between Djokovic and Federer.
The prize pool reflects the importance of the event: 200 points for victory in the group stage, 400 in the semi-finals and 500 in the final. The total distributed exceeds previous editions, encouraging maximum participation.
Detailed composition of the Connors and Borg groups
The Jimmy Connors Group brings together Alcaraz, Djokovic, Fritz and De Minaur, with the American Fritz highlighting the intensity of the duels. All players have a recent history of winning on indoor hard courts.
De Minaur, seventh in the Race, debuts against one of the favorites, while Fritz is looking for his first semifinal at the Finals. Djokovic has beaten Fritz on 11 consecutive occasions, including this year’s Shanghai ATP.
In the Bjorn Borg Group, Sinner faces Zverev, whom he defeated in the Vienna semi-finals, and Shelton, who he defeated in the Paris Masters. The winner of Athens completes the quartet, with Musetti able to create the first Italian duel in the tournament’s history.
The opening games take place on Sunday, with Alcaraz and Sinner opening against the eighth placed teams in their groups.
Possible scenarios for semi-finals and finals
The top two from each group will advance, with the first from Connors facing the second from Borg in the semi-finals. An Alcaraz-Sinner final would depend on cross classifications, intensifying the rivalry with 16 previous clashes.
Shelton, in his debut, brings power to Sinner’s group, with the Italian’s 26 indoor victories in the last two years. Fritz and De Minaur, on Alcaraz’s side, have experience in Masters 1000, but face the challenge of Djokovic in short sets.
The round-robin format requires consistency, with tiebreaker criteria based on percentage of sets and games won. In case of equalities, the final ATP ranking decides.
- Semifinals: November 15th, starting at 1pm (timeBrasília river).
- Final: November 16th, with night session starting at 8:30 pm.
- Transmissions: Band and Disney+ in Brazil, with live coverage.
History and data that mark this edition
The ATP Finals turns 56 years old in 2025, with Turin hosting for the fifth consecutive time. The tournament distributes 15,500 points in total, influencing the 2026 calendar.
Djokovic holds a record seven titles, followed by Federer with six. Sinner, with 26 consecutive indoor victories, equals the streaks of legends like Federer in 2005.
Alcaraz is looking for its first trophy, after the semifinals in 2023. The prize for the runner-up reaches US$2.4 million, with decreasing amounts for classifieds.
This year marks the 15th host city in history, after London and other European capitals.