Jannik Sinner is the top seed at the upcoming ATP Finals, hoping to go a step further than a year ago. Jannik made a name for himself on home soil in 2019, winning Challengers titles in Bergamo and Ortisei and becoming the Next Gen ATP Finals champion in Milan. The home youngster received a wild card for the U21 event and used it with both hands. Sinner notched four wins in five duels, making an impressive top-100 duels against the more experienced and better-ranked opponents. Speaking about his Next Gen ATP Finals success, Jannik explained how much it meant for him at such a young age, especially in front of the partisan crowd.
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Jannik, 18, makes a strong start in Milan
Sinner faced the 2nd seed Frances Tiafoe in his Next Gen ATP Finals debut and toppled the American 3-4, 4-2, 4-2, 4-2 in an hour and 26 minutes. A few weeks earlier, Jannik beat Frances in Antwerp en route to the semi-final. The Italian overcame a slower start in Milan and imposed his shots from set number two to oust one of the title favorites. Unleashing the power of his strokes, the 18-year-old landed 31 winners and 20 unforced errors, denying all four break points and mounting the pressure on the other side. Sinner provided one break in each set after the opener, controlling the scoreboard and moving over the top.
Two rivals took the ball early in the opening set and sailed through their service games to arrange a tie break at 3-3! Frances grabbed early mini-breaks and moved 6-1 in front before converting the fourth set point at 6-4 after Jannik's forehand error. Sinner served well at the beginning of the second set and clinched a break in the fifth game. The home favorite saved a break point in the next one, clinching the set 4-2 and leveling the overall score. The Italian provided a break at 1-1 in the third set, landing a forehand winner and moving in front. He saved two break points in the sixth game with powerful serves to wrap up the set and move closer to the finish line. Jannik clinched a crucial break at 2-2 in the fourth set and moved over the top with a hold in game six.
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Sinner makes it two from two and reaches the semi-final
Jannik faced Mikael Ymer in the second round and stormed over the Swede 4-0, 4-2, 4-1 in 56 minutes! Sinner dropped 12 points in his games and defended all five break points, mounting the pressure on the other side. Mikael could not follow that pace, dropping over half of the points in his games and losing serve four times. The Italian landed 16 winners and 23 unforced errors, diminishing his opponent to four winners and 18 mistakes and controlling the shortest and mid-range exchanges. Jannik claimed the opener with a bagel in 12 minutes and saved two break points in the third game of the second set with winners. Sinner denied another break point in the fifth game and broke in the next one for 4-2 and a big step toward the top. The Italian denied two break points at the beginning of the third set and broke in the next one for 2-0. Jannik served for the win in game five and sealed the deal, booking a place in the last four. The 18-year-old suffered a 4-3, 3-4, 4-2, 4-2 loss to Ugo Humbert in the final round-robin matches, already booking his semi-final ticket.
Jannik shines and wins the title
Sinner faced Miomir Kecmanovic in the semi-final and scored a 2-4, 4-1, 4-2, 4-2 triumph in an hour and 15 minutes for a place in the title clash. Jannik overcame a slow start and overpowered the Serb with the sheer power of his strokes. The Italian denied eight of nine break points, facing none in sets two and four. He landed 24 winners and 27 unforced errors, reducing Miomir to 11 direct points. Kecmanovic dropped serve three times after the opener, ending his campaign in the semi-final. The Serb broke in the third game of the opening set and clinched it 6-2 with a service winner.
Jannik lost three points on serve in the second set and clinched a break in the fourth game to turn the tables. He closed the set with a service winner at 3-1 and grabbed a break at love at the beginning of the third. Sinner denied four break points in the next one to cement the advantage and landed a service winner at deuce at 3-2 to secure the set and move closer to the finish line. The 18-year-old landed a volley winner in the third game of the fourth set, securing a break and holding in the next one for 3-1. Kecmanovic denied three match points on serve in the fifth game before Sinner held at love at 3-2 with a volley winner, moving into the title clash.
The Italian faced Alex de Minaur and provided a rock-solid 4-2, 4-1, 4-2 triumph in 64 minutes, becoming the third Next Gen ATP Finals champion! De Minaur was the top seed after entering the top-20. However, he stood no chance against the upcoming star. Thus, he suffered his second straight Next Gen ATP Finals title clash defeat. Jannik landed 16 winners and unforced errors. He reduced his rival to seven direct points and controlled the pace against the rival who reached the final with a 4-0 score! Sinner blew de Minaur away in the shortest range up to four strokes, finishing 30% of the points in his games with a powerful serve and mounting the pressure on the other side. Jannik outplayed the more experienced rival in the pivotal moments, defending all nine break points and providing one break in each set to seal the deal in style.
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The returners wasted four break points in the opening games of the encounter. Sinner made another push on the return in the sixth game, earning a break at love for 4-2 in 22 minutes. The Italian faced issues behind the initial shot in the second set, playing against seven break points. He denied them and made a difference with a break at love in the second game. The younger player denied two break points at 3-1 with winners, holding and moving closer to the finish line. Jannik served superbly in the third set, and Alex failed to match that level. The home favorite stepped in on the return at 1-1, firing a forehand winner at the net for three break points and forcing the rival's mistake for a break and a 2-1 advantage. Sinner produced a fine hold in the fourth game and served for the title at 3-2. The Italian blasted a forehand down the line winner for three match points and seized the first with a service winner to lift a trophy and start a massive celebration with his team and family.
