ATP Tour
Winning Captain Cupry Owity Owity Kolisi weighs in on Alcaraz vs Soni: ‘Big’
The Skybok icon, Felix’s friend and Felerer, visited the NITTTO ATP Finals
November 16, 2025
Chuck Howell / ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz and South African Rugby Star Siya Kiya Kolisi on Saturday at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
By Andy West
Like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sonner, Siya Kolisi enjoyed the taste of victory on Saturday in Turin.
The South African Rugby World Cup winner, Kolisi led the Springboks to a 32-14 victory against Italy at the Allianz Dealium Stadium, just as home favorite Alex de Minar sank to book his NITTO ATP Finals tournament.
A few hours later, Kolisi was inside the Innalpi Arena to watch Alcaraz Down Felix auger-AliasShime and set up a Blockbuster title match with his big Rivalion. It will be the sixth Lexus Atp Head2head meeting between the two in 2025 and Kosisi, who is a huge tennis fan, understands the importance of the pair’s rivalry.
“I’m very happy. I think it’s great,” Kolisi told aturour.com ahead of Sunday’s final, scheduled for 6 pm cet / noon et Sunday. “Obviously, Sinner has a home advantage here. He’s from here, but I don’t think that will play on Alcaraz’s mind because he’s a strong player and he showed today that he can.”
– In the wild @Siyakolisi A reaction to a fight @carlosalcaraz first time 😂😂😂#Nittoatpfinals | #Kolisi pic.twitterst.com/mfrbosdlvtv
– ATP Tour (@atptour) November 15, 2025
Kolisi first met Alcaraz at the beginning of the week in Turin and did not hide his joy at crossing paths with a Con 1 player at the levels of CO 1. He ended up with Auger-AliasShime, who exchanged frequent messages with him for social support.
“It was the first time I saw Carlos play live and also the first time I saw Felix Phiza play,” said the 32-year-old Kolisi after Alcaraz’s victory. “I came to this tournament because of Felix. [He and I] they have been talking on social media and supporting each other. We already planned to meet, and this was an opportunity to meet.
“[The match] it was good. It was difficult. Alcaraz was very strong today, but you can’t take away Felix’s effort. Alcaraz deserved the match, but Felix will rise again. ”
<img alt="Felix auger-aliassime / We go to college “style =” width: 100%; “SRC=”
Felix auger-Alias-aliassime greets Siya Kolisi on Saturday night at the Nitto ATP Finals. Photo Credit: Jack Howell / ATP Tour
Auger-Aliassime is not the first tennis star that Kolisi has dated. He has been close to Roger Federer since World No. 1 Owald began. The rugby star cites Switzerland when asked what he likes most about tennis players and how they compete.
“I learned from listening to Roger Federer Speak,” Kosisi said. “When you lose a point, you have to forget it and move on to the next one. You say you lost a lot of points, but you won [so many] similarity. It is the ability to move forward. You lose a point and change your mindset to gain the next one. And when you win one, you can’t stay on it. Just go to the next one. This concept is strong and powerful. ”
Kolisi, who led his country to the Rugby World Cup traumfs in 2019 and 2023, has since joined Federer on tour in support of the Roger Federer Foundation, which supports South Africa in the Six Nations and Switzerland. However, their friendship is not as simple as playing tennis together. Kolisi is determined, but unsure of his abilities, he hit the necessary distance to take the court with the nitto ATP Final Champion.
“I tried to play tennis, but I’m breastfeeding,” Kosisi said. “I would like to play [with Roger]. You’re making a charity game, and I’d love to play in it one day. Please, there is no other way to put it, but I will start somewhere! ”
