Why Every Tennis Fan Should Go to the Nitto ATP Finals in Italy at Least Once

Every tennis fan dreams of seeing the world’s best players compete up close, but in the United States, that dream often comes with a shocking price tag and no guarantees. If you want a real shot at seeing top-ranked players at the US Open, Indian Wells, or the Miami Open, you have to buy tickets to the quarterfinals, semifinals, or finals, and even then you are gambling. Your favorite player could lose early, withdraw, or get placed on the opposite side of the draw. And if you want seats close enough to feel the power of their serve, the cost becomes unreasonable for most people. A front-row ticket at the Miami Open can cost more than $8,500 for a single seat. Indian Wells sells front-row semifinal seats for over $7,300. Courtside seats at the US Open can hit $20,000. And you’re going alone? Of course not. Most fans bring a spouse, a child, or a friend, which instantly doubles or triples the expense before you even factor in flights, hotels, food, parking, and everything else.

This is why I believe that the Nitto ATP Finals, held every November in Torino, Italy, is the best kept secret in the tennis world. The ATP Finals are not an exhibition. It is an official, high-stakes ATP tournament that directly affects rankings. It is the final tournament of the ATP season and arguably the most prestigious event outside the four Grand Slams. Only the top 8 players in the world qualify. The tournament uses a round-robin format, which means every single player competes multiple times during the week. There is no waiting for the finals to see the biggest names—they start competing immediately, and they keep competing. The stakes are also enormous, especially because the year-end World #1 trophy is always presented in Torino, and the prize money is massive. In 2025, the undefeated champion (Jannik Sinner) collected over $5,000,000.

The Nitto ATP Finals may be the best kept secret in tennis, but for Italian Enthusiasts and tennis lovers, it’s a secret worth sharing.

Now here’s the incredible part. For a fraction of the cost of attending a major tournament in the United States, you can buy front-row seats in Torino and be close enough to hear the players’ breathing between points. Tickets are often under $1,000 for a front-row match. And because seats are sold per session (afternoon and evening) buying both sessions on the same day guarantees you the chance to watch four of the top eight players in the world perform. That means you have a 50% chance of seeing one of the top four players, and you didn’t have to spend $20,000 for the privilege.

Some people might respond by saying, “Well, traveling to Italy is expensive.” But actually, in November, it isn’t. November is Italy’s off-season, and flights from the United States can be found for around $600 round trip. Hotels in Torino are reasonable too – some upscale, some simple, just like anywhere else, but without summer pricing. When you actually add everything together (the flight, the hotel, and front-row tickets) it often costs less than a single premium seat at Indian Wells or the Miami Open. And it is significantly less than any top-tier seat at the US Open.

This alone should be enough to convince any tennis fan, but what makes the experience unforgettable is that it’s in Italy. Torino is one of the country’s most underrated cities: known for its chocolate, its elegant cafés, its Piedmont wines, its refined cuisine, and its unique personality. During ATP Finals week, the entire city comes alive with tennis energy. Streets are decorated with player banners, fan zones pop up around the city, and the atmosphere feels like a joyful end-of-year celebration for tennis as a whole. Practice sessions are accessible, relaxed, and incredibly intimate. You can watch your favorite players warm up just a few feet away, and often get photos or autographs without chaos.

When I went to the 2025 ATP Finals with my father and my son—three generations of Barbuto men—it became one of the most special travel experiences of my life. We saw World #1 Carlos Alcaraz from just a few feet away during a practice session, close enough to hear the sound of the ball leaving his strings. We sat front-row to watch Alexander Zverev (World #3) and Ben Shelton (World #5) compete. And we spent the rest of the trip walking through Torino’s cafés, eating Piedmontese pasta, sipping chocolate drinks, and feeling like the entire city was celebrating tennis with us.

Traveling to Torino for the ATP Finals isn’t just about tennis; it’s about combining the sport you love with the culture, food, and beauty of Italy. It is a trip that blends passion with pleasure, excitement with elegance. For anyone who loves tennis, or Italy, it feels irresponsible not to experience this at least once. And when you realize that it actually costs less than attending a major tournament in the U.S., it becomes even more clear.