Race to No.1: ’We shake hands, all is good’ – Jannik Sinner talks about Alcaraz ahead of year-end ATP Finals in Turin.

Sinner trails Alcaraz by 1,050 points in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and must defend his title to have a shot at finishing year-end No. 1 for the second straight year. Even that might not be enough as if Alcaraz earns 450 points here, he will be the year-end No.1, regardless of what Sinner does.

The ATP site puts Alcaraz’s to-do list to get that No.1 spot thus: “To do that he can:

* Sweep his round-robin matches.

* Reach the final while winning two round-robin matches or one round-robin match.”

Speaking on media day Thursday in Turin, Alcaraz said: “Ending as the No. 1, it’s been an important goal for me since half the year, to be honest. Because at the beginning I didn’t think about it. I’m just really motivated to perform well, to play my best tennis, trying to get some wins here, trying to qualify to the semi-finals. I think doing good in this tournament, winning matches here, it comes together with ending the year as No. 1. It’s kind of the same motivation, they stick together.”

Sinner spoke to the Russian outlet Tennis Bolshoi on his evolving relationship with Alcaraz. Both players practiced together ahead of the ATP Finals in Turin.

“Yeah, I mean it has evolved in the basis of success for both players, but in another way we do understand each other really well off the court and that hasn’t really changed,” answered Alcaraz. “We just know each other better, which is normal, it’s something natural.

“You know, growing up you see him a bit more in the locker room, on the practice courts, sometimes you practice together and you talk about different stuff, not only about tennis and you get to know him better, and I think it’s great, it’s nice, obviously we both know what’s on the line in every tournament.

“Especially here, the last tournament we play, but yeah whenever we shake hands the match is over and it’s all good.”