Since the US Open, Sinner has focused on being more aggressive with his serving – which led to him being broken only once during his five matches in Turin – and playing with more variety.

Both facets were evident against Alcaraz.

When Alcaraz had a chance to win the first set at 6-5 on Sinner’s serve, the Italian nervelessly sent down a 117mph second serve to his opponent’s backhand to save the break point.

A pair of unreturnable first serves followed and enabled Sinner to force a tie-break which he then controlled.

In the second set, with Alcaraz hampered by a hamstring injury which required strapping, Sinner began to use more drop shots and it was notably one which saved a break point in the seventh game.

Breaking Alcaraz again in what proved to be the final game meant Sinner lifted the trophy without dropping a set.

“You are definitely a player I look up to,” Sinner, who stretched his unbeaten record indoors to 31 matches, told Alcaraz in his winner’s speech.

“[You give me] a lot of motivation – I need this – in every practice session with a big, big purpose.

“I hope to see you again next year with, hopefully, great, great battles ahead of us.”

The tickertape had not even settled on the Turin court.

Yet the platitudes exchanged by the pair – who appear to have a genuine warmth in a relationship – indicated they are already looking forward to locking horns again in the 2026 season.

A lot of tennis fans are also licking their lips about seeing Sinner and Alcaraz going head-to-head again – and lamenting it will not happen again for at least another couple of months.

A rendezvous in the Australian Open final, with Sinner looking to defend his Melbourne crown and Alcaraz aiming to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam, would be their dream.

On the evidence of this season and this latest encounter, few would bet against it.