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Only a few days ahead of the season-ending climax of the men's tour in Turin, the Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner show had already begun. While the two competitors are locked in battle to settle the top spot for the season, rumours swirled that they were set to train together. True to form, that day they walked onto the main court in unison and were met with deafening roars from a large crowd.

An Exhibition Set That Gripped the Tennis World

The practice set that ensued garnered as much attention as plenty of games this year. Thousands of viewers watched live to see the action unfold, and key moments were quickly posted following the event. The results from training matches typically stay on the training venue, but on this unique event the tennis world soon discovered that Sinner had finished the day with a 6-3 win. They celebrated the event with a selfie that instantly spread through social media.

"This is their tour currently. Although Carlos endured a surprising defeat in his opening match at the recent tournament, the pattern that has shaped this men's tennis year persisted with Jannik's next triumph: whenever the two top players have participated at a competition this season, one of them has ended the event with the championship."

The Question: Who Can Stop Them?

Subsequent to much anticipation of anticipation and predictions about supremacy, these showings are indicative of two special players who have quickly made their mark as historic champions at such an early stage. But this year has also highlighted the shortcomings of the caliber of the rest of the field. Before the ATP Finals, the biggest inquiry is if any athlete is seriously capable of stopping Alcaraz and Sinner.

The Challengers

Currently, their chances are bleak. Per the official standings, the German star is the number three in the world. He also currently holds fewer than half as many tour points as Alcaraz at No 2. He remains one of the most successful players to have not yet claimed a big championship, but he has been dominated by the top pair in their key encounters and the gap only appears to be growing. Since being totally overwhelmed by Sinner in the first major of the year, the German's year has been disappointing.

Taking into account he made it to the semi-finals of all four grand slam tournaments this season, the Serbian legend has shown that he is probably the next in line in the world. In theory, his prospects of beating the top two are greater over shorter formats and under a roof than during the majors, but he competes in the Athens final and he is has not confirmed whether he will compete in the Finals. The series of contests in his legs over the recent days would undoubtedly be an additional hindrance to his chances of success in Italy.

There are more doubts across the field. The American star has experienced an outstanding season, embedding himself in the upper echelon. His competitive toughness, steady progress and the complete skill set he has constructed supported by his biggest weapon is praiseworthy but it is hard not see him as a player who is maximizing all of his capability, rather than a competitor with enough room for growth to narrow the divide to the leading pair.

New Faces and Established Names

In his maiden appearance at the Finals, Ben Shelton is the most junior of the remaining competitors and maybe the biggest wildcard. For one thing, with his incredible power, comprehensive offensive style and fitness, he has huge upside. But there are also deficiencies in his skills, especially his backhand stroke and return game, that Sinner and Alcaraz have exploited with ease.

Alex de Minaur has impressively made the season-ending tournament for a second instance in his career but his game is short on weaponry against the elite players. The last place in the draw will be settled on the weekend. Should Lorenzo Musetti beat the Serbian to win the Athens ATP 250 event, he would overtake the red-hot Félix Auger-Aliassime in the ATP race to become the final automatic qualifier.

Significant Omissions

Equally significant as the players in the Finals are the absences. The dramatic struggles of Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev, three perennial top-10 players not very long ago, have failed to strengthen the competition. The significant ailments to the British talent, in the heart of a monumental season, and Arthur Fils, the highly gifted 21-year-old who seemed to be in the midst of a landmark season, have diminished the chasing pack. No other player has come close to stepping up.

The Ultimate Conclusion

With the exception of Sinner and Alcaraz, the possibility of securing this season-ending championship seems very remote. Nevertheless, in a event showcasing the finest athletes in the world, with the spotlight heavily weighing of the two favourites, every match is an chance for the challenger to show what they are capable of. The next few days will determine which player, if anyone at all, is equipped to rise to the occasion.