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Merely a few days before the grand finale of the men's tour in the Italian city of Turin, the Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner show had kicked off. Even though the two opponents are competing intensely to determine the world number one position, talk spread that they were arranged to practice with each other. True to form, that day they stepped onto the center court in unison and were welcomed by an explosive reception from a sizable crowd.

An Exhibition Set That Fascinated the Tennis World

The training match that followed garnered as much attention as plenty of games this year. A multitude of fans tuned in to watch the live stream, and highlights were quickly posted following the event. The scores from training matches usually do not leave the training venue, but on this occasion the sporting community soon discovered that Sinner had wrapped up with a triumphant set. They marked the occasion with a photo that rapidly circulated through social media.

"The tour belongs to them now. Even when Alcaraz suffered a surprising defeat in his initial contest at the recent tournament, the pattern that has defined this season on tour persisted with the Italian's following win: on each occasion the two top players have played at a competition this year, one of them has finished the week with the trophy."

The Big Query: Is There a Challenger?

Subsequent to much anticipation of expectations and forecasts about dominance, these performances are demonstrative of two exceptional athletes who have already established themselves as historic champions at such an early stage. But this season has also highlighted the shortcomings of the standard of the other competitors. Before the ATP Finals, the most significant question is whether any athlete is genuinely equipped of halting the dominant pair.

The Contenders

Currently, their odds are bleak. Based on the ATP rankings, the German star is the number three in the world. He also at the moment has fewer than half as many ranking points as Alcaraz at No 2. He remains one of the most decorated athletes to have never won a major title, but he has been outclassed by Sinner and Alcaraz in their key encounters and the disparity only looks to be increasing. Following completely overpowered by the Italian in the first major of the year, Zverev's season has been lackluster.

Considering he reached the semi-finals of every major this season this season, Novak Djokovic has shown that he is probably the third best player in the world. On paper, his opportunities of overcoming Sinner and Alcaraz are better over three-set matches and under a roof than during the majors, but he competes in the Athens final and he is yet to decide if he will compete in Turin. The five matches in his body over the recent days would surely be further detrimental to his prospects for victory in Turin.

Additional uncertainties remain throughout the draw. The American star has had an excellent year, securing his place in the upper echelon. His psychological fortitude, ongoing development and the versatile playing style he has constructed complemented by his enormous serve is admirable but it is tough not to perceive him as a player who is squeezing out all of his capability, rather than a player with sufficient scope for advancement to bridge the gap to the leading pair.

Fresh Talent and Veteran Presence

In his debut in the season finale, the young American is the most junior of the six challengers and maybe the biggest wildcard. For one thing, with his nuclear serve, comprehensive offensive style and athleticism, he has enormous potential. But there are also deficiencies in his skills, notably his backhand and ability to handle serves, that the top players have capitalized on without difficulty.

Alex de Minaur has admirably reached the ATP Finals for a second time in his career but his game is short on weaponry against the elite players. The last place in the tournament field will be decided on the weekend. Should Lorenzo Musetti defeat the Serbian to win the Greek tournament, he would jump ahead of the red-hot Canadian star in the qualification battle to become the eighth participant.

Notable Absences

Similarly noteworthy as the participants in the Finals are the non-participants. The notable declines of three former top players, three perennial top-10 players until recently, have not helped the competition. The significant ailments to Jack Draper, in the midst of a monumental season, and Arthur Fils, the highly gifted 21-year-old who seemed to be in the process of a landmark season, have reduced the group of contenders. Not a single competitor has made significant strides to stepping up.

The Ultimate Conclusion

For anyone other than Sinner and Alcaraz, the idea of claiming this season-ending championship seems highly unlikely. Nevertheless, in a event featuring the best players in the world, with the expectations heavily weighing of the top picks, each contest is an opportunity for the challenger to demonstrate what they are made of. The tournament duration will determine which player, assuming one exists, is equipped to rise to the occasion.