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Only days ahead of the grand finale of the ATP season in Turin, the display from the two top players had kicked off. While the two competitors are engaged in a fight to settle the top spot for the season, speculation circulated that they were set to share a training session. True to form, that afternoon they stepped onto the center court side-by-side and were greeted by deafening roars from a sizable crowd.

An Exhibition Set That Fascinated the Sporting World

The practice set that came next garnered as much attention as many matches this year. Thousands of viewers logged on to view the broadcast, and key moments were swiftly available following the event. The scores from practice sets usually do not leave the training venue, but on this occasion the tennis world quickly learned that Sinner had finished the day with a victory by 6-3. They celebrated the event with a selfie that instantly spread like wildfire.

"The tour belongs to them currently. Despite the fact that Carlos endured a poor loss in his initial contest at the Paris Masters, the trend that has characterized this season on tour endured with Sinner's subsequent victory: on each occasion the rivals have participated at a competition this season, one of them has finished the week with the championship."

The Big Query: Who Can Stop Them?

After years of hype and projections about supremacy, these performances are indicative of two exceptional athletes who have quickly made their mark as all-time greats at such an early stage. But this campaign has also highlighted the shortcomings of the quality of the rest of the field. Before the ATP Finals, the most significant question is whether any competitor is seriously capable of halting the dominant pair.

The Hopefuls

Currently, their odds are unpromising. According to the world rankings, Alexander Zverev is the third best player in the world. He also at the moment has a fraction as many ATP points as Alcaraz at number two. Zverev remains one of the most decorated athletes to have never won a grand slam tournament, but he has been outplayed by Sinner and Alcaraz in their important duels and the gap only looks to be increasing. After getting utterly dominated by the Italian in the first major of the year, the German's year has been unimpressive.

Taking into account he advanced to the semi-finals of every major this season this year, the Serbian legend has shown that he is likely the third best player in the world. In theory, his prospects of overcoming the top two are better over shorter formats and on indoor courts than in five-set battles, but he is playing in the Athens final and he is has not confirmed if he will play in the Finals. The multiple games in his body over the recent days would undoubtedly be an additional hindrance to his chances of success in Turin.

There are more doubts throughout the draw. Taylor Fritz has had an excellent year, securing his place among the elite. His competitive toughness, ongoing development and the versatile playing style he has built behind his powerful delivery is commendable but it is tough not to perceive him as a player who is squeezing out all of his ability, as opposed to a player with enough room for improvement to narrow the divide to the top two.

Fresh Talent and Veteran Presence

In his debut in the season finale, the young American is the most junior of the six challengers and possibly the intriguing newcomer. Firstly, with his incredible power, comprehensive offensive style and physical prowess, he has great promise. But there are also weaknesses in his play, especially his backhand and ability to handle serves, that Sinner and Alcaraz have taken advantage of effortlessly.

The Australian competitor has successfully qualified for the season-ending tournament for a second instance in his career but his approach is lacking in firepower against the elite players. The final spot in the tournament field will be decided on Saturday. Should the Italian hopeful defeat Djokovic to win the Greek tournament, he would leapfrog the in-form Canadian star in the qualification battle to become the eighth participant.

Significant Omissions

Just as notable as the competitors in Turin are the absences. The notable declines of Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev, regular high-ranked athletes until recently, have failed to strengthen the field. The serious injuries to the British talent, in the middle of a monumental season, and Arthur Fils, the immensely talented 21-year-old who seemed to be in the midst of a breakthrough year, have reduced the chasing pack. No other player has gotten near to stepping up.

The Last Word

For anyone other than the dominant pair, the prospect of securing this year's ATP Finals seems highly unlikely. Still, in a tournament showcasing the top competitors in the world, with the spotlight squarely on the backs of the top picks, all games is an moment for the underdog to show what they are able to achieve. The coming week will show which player, assuming one exists, is prepared to rise to the occasion.