World no. 1 Jannik Sinner delighted the home crowd in Turin, reaching his second consecutive ATP Finals title clash. Jannik faced Casper Ruud in the semi-final and earned a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over Casper Ruud in 69 minutes. Sinner will fight for his first ATP Finals crown against Taylor Fritz.
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Ruud reached his third semi-final from as many appearances at the ATP Finals. However, He stood no chance against the world's leading player, who overpowered him on serve and return. Sinner will try to wrap up a perfect week in Turin and claim his sixth notable title of the season.
Jannik throws everything at Casper
The Italian claimed 25 points more than the Norwegian. He dominated with his first serve and kept the second safe, fending off two break points in the only loose service games. Casper felt the pressure and cracked under it, dropping over half of the points in his games and suffering two breaks in each set.
Jannik landed 23 winners and nine unforced errors and left his rival on a 10-14 ratio. The home favorite had more service winners and the upper hand from the baseline and at the net, sealing the deal in under 70 minutes. Sinner overpowered Ruud in the shortest exchanges and played better in the more advanced ones to control the pace all the time.
Sinner makes a strong start
World no. 1 held at 15 in the first game of the match with a backhand winner. He landed a lob winner in game two for break points and secured an early advantage after drawing the rival's mistake. Jannik grabbed the third game with a smash winner, extending the gap after ten minutes.
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Casper made his only push on the return in the fifth game, cracking a forehand down the line winner and earning two break chances. Sinner denied them and closed the game with a forced error, moving 4-1 in front and keeping his initial shot intact.
The Norwegian missed his chances and played a loose service game right after. The Italian generated three break points with a volley winner and painted a backhand down the line winner for a break at love and a 5-1 lead. The home favorite held at 15 in game seven, taking the opener 6-1 in 30 minutes.
Jannik moves over the top in style
They served well at the beginning of the second set, with Ruud following the rival's pace and increasing his performance in comparison to the opener. Jannik stepped in on the return in the fifth game and earned break chances with a forehand down the line winner.
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The Italian missed three as the Norwegian gave everything to stay on the positive side. However, Sinner converted the fourth with a forced error, moving a set and a break in front and closer to the finish line. World no. 1 landed an ace in the next game, cementing the break and opening a 4-2 gap.
Flying over the court, Jannik cracked a forehand crosscourt return winner in the seventhgame, earning a break at 15 and opening a 5-2 advantage. The home favorite served for the win in game eight and earned three match points with a forehand winner. He converted the first with an ace, sealing the deal in style and moving into the final.
