World no. 1 Jannik Sinner secured a place in the ATP Finals semi-final in Turin for the second straight year. The world's best player is the first semi-finalist of this week's premium ATP event, notching two wins and passing the round-robin stage ahead of his first match against Daniil Medvedev.
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Thus, the Italian extended his incredible streak this season, never losing before the quarter-final and leaving all the rivals far behind. Jannik is seeking his first ATP Finals crown, having lostto Novak Djokovic in straight sets a year ago. World no. 1 is the top favorite to lift the trophy alongside Alexander Zverev.
Jannik makes a reliable start against Alex de Minaur
Sinner kicked off his third ATP Finals campaign against Alex de Minaur and beat the Aussie 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 25 minutes. The home favorite played well on serve and return, delivering his eighth triumph over de Minaur inas many encounters. Jannik gave away ten points in ten service games, providing15 service winners and suffering one break from the only opportunity presented to the lower-ranked competitor.
De Minaur could not follow that pace, hitting only eight service winners and working hard for every point. The Aussie gave away 44% of the points in his games and suffered three breaks from seven chances offered to the world's best player. Sinner sprayed backhand errors but finished the duel with 19 winners and 20 mistakes.
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As we noticed, Alex struggled to impose his strokes, finishing the duel with seven winners and 21 loose strokes, too many to challenge such a strong rival. The Italian took charge in the shortest and mid-range exchanges, struggling from the baseline despite leading the most extended rallies.
Jannik held at love at the beginning of the match. However, it all changed at 1-1 when he played a wayward backhand and lost serve. Instead of building on that, de Minaur lost serve a few minutes later followingthe rival's backhand crosscourt winner. The home favorite returned to the positive side and landed a service winner in the next one for 3-2.
World no. 1 made another push on the return in the sixth game, causing the opponent's mistake and forging a 4-2 lead. Sinner cemented the break with a hold at love in game seven and served for the set at 5-3. Jannik provided another fine hold, welcoming Alex's forehand error and wrapping up the opener 6-3 in 36 minutes.
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Carried by this boost, the two-time Major champion embraced five comfortable holds in the second set. He closed the fourth game at love with a powerful serve and generated three break chances at 2-2. Eager to fight until the end, Alex denied them and prolonged the battle. However, Sinner placed a deep return on his fourth opportunity, moving a set and a break in front.
The home favorite grabbed games six and eight with aces, controlling the scoreboard and keeping the pressure on the other side. The Aussie extended the matchwith a hold at 15 in game nine before the Italian sealed the deal with an ace in game ten, holding at love and making a winning start.
Sinner passes Taylor Fritz and remains perfect
Jannik played another good match in the second round-robin duel. He defeated Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 40 minutes, remaining perfect in front of the home fans. World no. 1grabbed his 67th win of the season after playing well behind the second serve.
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Sinner denied the only break points and mounted the pressure on the other side, like in the US Open final two months ago. Fritz could not defend his second serve as he wanted, facing six break points and suffering one break in each set to finish on the losing side.
The Italian landed 22 winners and 18 unforced errors. He forgedthe lead from the baseline and tookcharge in the shortest rallies up to four strokes. Jannik overcame two deuces in the fifth game of the opening set before Taylor held at love for 3-3. Sinner faced issues from 40-15 in the seventh game, netting a backhand and facing a break point.
The world's best player denied it in style with a forehand attack and landed an unreturned serve for a hold and 4-3. Fritz lost his focus on serve in the eighth game, spraying a backhand error and offering his rival three break chances. World no. 5 bounced back and erased them, holding and leveling the score at 4-4.
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Jannik forgot that chance and produced a fine hold in the ninth game thanks to a volley winner. He converted the first with an attackand clinched the first part of the duel 6-4. The rivals served well in the opening five games of the second set. Sinner changed that scenario at 3-2, causing the rival's mistake and earning a break point.
Taylor erased it with a forehand winner and hit an ace for a hold and 3-3. They served well in games seven and eight, increasing the drama. The Italian repeated that at 4-4, keeping the pressure on the other side. The American served to stay in the match in game ten and cracked under pressure.
Jannik hit a deep return at 30-30 for a match point. He targeted the rival's backhand, drawing an error and earning his second win in Turin this week.
