At the ATP Finals in Turin, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Holger Rune will confront Novak Djokovic as a “Young Gen.”

At the ATP Finals in Turin, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Holger Rune will confront Novak Djokovic as a “Young Gen.” By preventing players like Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Alexander Zverev from winning additional championships, Novak Djokovic has already done a respectable job of stalling the ascent of the so-called “Next Gen”.

After missing the event due to an injury last year, 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, who has already won the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, is making his debut at the season-ending competition for the top eight players.

The Italian is ranked a career-high No. 4, and Jannik Sinner, 22, who is hot off recent victories in China and Vienna, will play in front of his home audience.

With two victories against Djokovic already, Holger Rune, 20, will restart his growing battle with the 24-time Grand Slam champion in the main match when the competition gets underway on Sunday at the Pala Alpitour’s fast indoor court.

“I appreciate you reminding me of the age—Young Gen, Next Gen—but I’m not sure which generational group I belong to,” remarked the 36-year-old Djokovic on Friday.

Being able to fight against the young boys usually gives me more drive because I know they are hungry and have high expectations for themselves in these kinds of competitions. That further motivates me to play the best tennis possible.

With an 18-match winning streak dating back to his five-set defeat to Alcaraz in the July Wimbledon final, Djokovic has undoubtedly been playing at his best lately.

Djokovic now only needs to win one more game to lock up the top spot at the end of the year for a record-tying ninth time.

Nine days after defeating the Danish player in a match that lasted almost three hours in the Paris Masters quarterfinals — one year after Rune defeated Djokovic in the tournament final — Djokovic will face Rune once again.

The four meetings between Djokovic and Rune have resulted in a series draw at 2-2; none of them have concluded in straight sets.

Djokovic compared facing Rune to gazing in the mirror after their most recent match. Furthermore, Rune now has one of Djokovic’s previous coaches, Boris Becker, in his box.

“We play tennis in very similar ways and with very comparable games. We both move and defend effectively. We both bring a lot of effort and enthusiasm to the game, and he’s a really complete player,” Djokovic remarked. “I anticipate a close match again.”

Two years ago, Sinner made his finals debut as an alternate following Matteo Berrettini’s injury.

Sinner has emerged as the tournament’s poster boy after qualifying this time with weeks to spare and has been hounded by supporters everywhere he goes since getting to Turin.

Being an Italian player, Sinner stated that it is undoubtedly a significant occasion in Italy. “I’ll make an effort to capture a lot of the crowd’s positive energy. It’s going to be so much fun that I must savor the present as well. I am aware of my capabilities.

On Sunday, Sinner takes on Tsitsipas in the opening match of the competition.er close contest.