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Only days prior to the grand finale of the men's tour in the Italian city of Turin, the Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner show had kicked off. While the two competitors are locked in battle to determine the world number one position, talk spread that they were arranged to practice with each other. True to form, that afternoon they stepped onto the main court in unison and were greeted by an explosive reception from a large crowd.

A Practice Session That Gripped the Global Audience

The training match that ensued drew similar focus as plenty of games this year. A multitude of fans watched live to watch the live stream, and recaps were swiftly available afterwards. The scores from training matches are often confined to the training venue, but on this occasion the sporting community quickly learned that the Italian star had wrapped up with a victory by 6-3. They commemorated the moment with a snapshot that instantly spread across the internet.

"They own the circuit currently. Although Alcaraz suffered a surprising defeat in his first game at the recent tournament, the streak that has characterized this year's ATP season endured with Sinner's subsequent victory: every time the rivals have participated at a competition this season, either player has ended the event with the title."

The Big Query: Who Can Stop Them?

Following a long period of expectations and forecasts about dominance, these performances are reflective of two exceptional athletes who have quickly made their mark as all-time greats at such a tender age. But this campaign has also highlighted the shortcomings of the quality of the rest of the field. Ahead of the season finale, the biggest inquiry is if any athlete is genuinely equipped of defeating the top two.

The Hopefuls

Currently, their prospects are bleak. According to the ATP rankings, Alexander Zverev is the number three in the world. He also at the moment has fewer than half as many tour points as the Spanish sensation at number two. Zverev remains one of the most decorated athletes to have failed to secure a major title, but he has been outplayed by Sinner and Alcaraz in their important duels and the difference only looks to be increasing. Following completely overpowered by Sinner in the first major of the year, his campaign has been disappointing.

Considering he reached the last four of all four grand slam tournaments this season, Novak Djokovic has proven that he is arguably the third best player in the world. On paper, his opportunities of defeating the top two are better over three-set matches and under a roof than in five-set battles, but he competes in the Greek tournament finale and he is has not confirmed whether he will participate in the Finals. The five matches in his system over the last seven days would surely be even more damaging to his chances of success in Italy.

Further questions exist among the other players. Taylor Fritz has had an excellent year, securing his place among the elite. His psychological fortitude, continued improvement and the complete skill set he has developed supported by his powerful delivery is praiseworthy but it is difficult to avoid viewing him as a player who is eking out all of his capability, rather than a player with sufficient scope for advancement to close the distance to the top two.

Fresh Talent and Veteran Presence

In his maiden appearance at the Finals, the young American is the youngest of the six challengers and maybe the most interesting addition. On one hand, with his devastating delivery, all-court aggression and athleticism, he has enormous potential. But there are also weaknesses in his play, notably his backhand side and return of serve, that Sinner and Alcaraz have capitalized on without difficulty.

Alex de Minaur has impressively made the ATP Finals for a second time in his tennis journey but his game is lacking in firepower against the top tier. The last place in the lineup will be settled on the weekend. If the Italian hopeful beat the Serbian to win the Greek tournament, he would overtake the in-form Canadian star in the points race to become the last direct entry.

Key Missing Players

Just as notable as the participants in the Finals are the non-participants. The dramatic struggles of three former top players, consistent elite competitors not very long ago, have failed to strengthen the field. The major physical issues to the British talent, in the middle of a breakthrough year, and the French prodigy, the immensely talented 21-year-old who seemed to be in the midst of a landmark season, have diminished the chasing pack. Nobody else has made significant strides to elevating their game.

The Last Word

For anyone other than the top two, the prospect of winning this Turin tournament seems very remote. Nevertheless, in a tournament featuring the top competitors in the world, with the pressure squarely on the backs of the leading contenders, all games is an chance for the underdog to demonstrate what they are able to achieve. The next few days will reveal which player, should there be any, is ready to step up.