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Only a few days before the spectacular conclusion of the tennis season in Turin, the Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner show had kicked off. Although the two rivals are engaged in a fight to determine the year-end No 1 ranking, rumours swirled that they were set to share a training session. Sure enough, that day they walked onto the main court side-by-side and were welcomed by an explosive reception from a large crowd.

A Practice Session That Captivated the Global Audience

The exhibition game that followed drew similar focus as numerous contests this season. Thousands of viewers watched live to view the broadcast, and key moments were swiftly available following the event. The outcomes from practice sets are often confined to the training venue, but on this occasion the global audience quickly learned that the Italian star had wrapped up with a 6-3 win. They commemorated the moment with a snapshot that rapidly circulated like wildfire.

"The tour belongs to them currently. Even when Carlos endured a poor loss in his opening match at the Paris Masters, the streak that has defined this year's ATP season persisted with Jannik's next triumph: on each occasion Alcaraz and Sinner have participated at a competition this season, at least one has ended the event with the championship."

The Big Query: Who Can Stop Them?

After years of expectations and forecasts about supremacy, these performances are indicative of two exceptional athletes who have already established themselves as all-time greats at such young ages. But this season has also reflected badly on the caliber of the rest of the field. Before the ATP Finals, the most significant question is if any competitor is truly able of stopping the top two.

The Hopefuls

As things stand, their odds are unpromising. Based on the official standings, the German star is the third best player in the world. He also at the moment has less than 50% as many ranking points as Alcaraz at No 2. He remains one of the most decorated athletes to have failed to secure a big championship, but he has been outplayed by the leading duo in their important duels and the gap only appears to be growing. After getting utterly dominated by the Italian in the first major of the year, his campaign has been lackluster.

Taking into account he advanced to the penultimate stage of all four grand slam tournaments this year, the Serbian legend has shown that he is arguably the third best player in the world. Theoretically, his opportunities of defeating the top two are better over shorter formats and indoors than during the majors, but he is playing in the Greek tournament finale and he is has not confirmed if he will play in the Finals. The series of contests in his legs over the last seven days would surely be further detrimental to his chances of success in Italy.

There are more doubts throughout the draw. The American star has enjoyed an excellent year, establishing himself in the upper echelon. His psychological fortitude, continued improvement and the well-rounded game he has developed behind his powerful delivery is admirable but it is difficult to avoid viewing him as a player who is squeezing out all of his ability, instead of a competitor with enough room for growth to narrow the divide to the dominant duo.

Fresh Talent and Veteran Presence

In his first ATP Finals, Ben Shelton is the youngest of the six challengers and maybe the intriguing newcomer. Firstly, with his devastating delivery, comprehensive offensive style and athleticism, he has enormous potential. But there are also deficiencies in his skills, especially his backhand and return of serve, that the leading duo have exploited with ease.

Alex de Minaur has impressively made the ATP Finals for a second time in his tennis journey but his approach is lacking in firepower against the very best. The last place in the lineup will be settled on Saturday. Should Lorenzo Musetti defeat the Serbian to win the Greek tournament, he would jump ahead of the high-performing Félix Auger-Aliassime in the points race to become the final automatic qualifier.

Notable Absences

Similarly noteworthy as the competitors in the Finals are the missing names. The significant difficulties of Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev, consistent elite competitors until recently, have done little to bolster the competition. The serious injuries to the British talent, in the middle of a impressive campaign, and the French prodigy, the highly gifted youngster who seemed to be in the throes of a career-defining period, have weakened the chasing pack. Not a single competitor has gotten near to stepping up.

The Last Word

With the exception of the top two, the idea of claiming this year's ATP Finals seems extremely distant. Nevertheless, in a event including the finest athletes in the world, with the expectations heavily weighing of the two favourites, each contest is an opportunity for the underdog to display what they are made of. The next few days will determine who, if anyone at all, is prepared to make a statement.