As predicted, Jannik Sinner is the ATP Finals semi-finalist! World no. 1 completed the round-robin stage in Turin with a 3-0 score, defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 to sail into the last four.
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The Italian extended his streak against the Russian, beating him for the seventh time in the previous eight encounters to turn the tables and take the lead in their H2H. Sinner will face Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz or Casper Ruud in Saturday's semi-final.
My picks in Jannik's win
The home favorite dropped 11 points in ten service games, losing serve once and keeping the pressure on the other side. Facing the elimination, Daniil struggled behind the second serve and suffered three breaks from five opportunities provided to his opponent.
Sinner took charge in the shortest and mid-range exchanges, taming his strokes nicely and welcoming 30 unforced errors from his rival. Medvedev hit 15 loose shots from both wings, struggling from the baseline and leaving Turin with a 1-2 score.
What pushes Sinner in front in the opener?
Jannik served at only 50% in the first part of the duel, and no one could notice that! World no. 1 lost two points in his games and made a push on the return in the second part of the set. They served well in the first five games, with the Italian landing a forehand drive-volley winner for a 3-2 lead.
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Medvedev experienced the first issues on serve in the sixth game, landing a backhand wide and offering his rival two break chances. The Russian denied them and painted a backhand down the line winner for a hold and 3-3. Sinner left those chances behind and provided a hold at love a few minutes later for a 4-3 advantage.
The home favorite launched another attack on the return in the eighth game. He generated two break points and seized the first after the rival's forehand error, opening a 5-3 lead and serving for the set. Jannik delivered a hold at love with a service winner, wrapping up the opener in 32 minutes.
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How I see the encounter's closing stage
The Italian broke in the third game of the second set and held for 3-1, sailing toward the finish line. The Russian delivered his best return game at 2-3, pulling the break back and returning to the positive side. However, Sinner rattled off the final three games, earning a decisive break at 4-4 and serving out for the win in the next one.
