Jannik Sinner is aiming for a semifinal spot at the ATP Finals in Turin after defeating Taylor Fritz 6:4, 6:4. With two wins in the group stage, his advancement is nearly guaranteed. He will next face Daniil Medvedev, who revived his chances with a win over Alex de Minaur. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz is struggling with health issues, and substitutes Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas are on standby. The tournament features a $15.25 million prize pool.
Jannik Sinner, the crowd favorite, is eyeing a spot in the semifinals of the ATP Finals taking place in Turin. The world number one from South Tyrol clinched a remarkable victory against American Taylor Fritz, replicating their US Open final showdown with a score of 6:4, 6:4.
With his second consecutive win in the group stage, Sinner’s path to the semifinals is nearly assured, barring a complex three-way tie scenario.
On Thursday, he will go head-to-head with Russian star Daniil Medvedev, who has secured one win so far. Fritz, also with one victory from two matches, lost to Sinner but triumphed over Medvedev. The American will face off against the winless Australian Alex de Minaur, who is no longer in contention for a semifinal berth.
Sinner Shines on Home Turf
Despite facing a potential doping ban, Sinner has been a dominant force in tennis this year, claiming two hard court titles in Melbourne and New York. Recently honored by Boris Becker for achieving the world number one ranking, Sinner has become the marquee athlete of the season finale nestled in the Alps, and he’s certainly living up to the hype.
Fritz Fights Hard
Sinner faced some initial challenges in maintaining his serve against Fritz, who matched him point for point. In the first set, with Sinner leading 4:3, Fritz staved off three break points. However, nerves got the better of Fritz shortly after, allowing Sinner to capitalize and take the set.
Medvedev Keeps Semifinal Hopes Alive
Daniil Medvedev displayed a composed performance to revive his semifinal chances after a tumultuous opening match. He convincingly defeated Australian newcomer Alex de Minaur 6:2, 6:4, ensuring he still has a shot at advancing.
Medvedev: ’26 Times Better Than Before’
‘I am satisfied with my level’, Medvedev remarked post-match. He expressed that the outcome was less significant than his performance, stating, ‘It worked today. Of course, it’s a shame for Alex because I played 26 times better than in the first match.’
Struggles with Fatigue and Frustration
This win marked Medvedev’s first on the tour in over a month. He had previously shared his feelings of mental fatigue as the season wound down. His opening loss to Fritz had been marred by frustration, which he exhibited through his racket.
Against de Minaur, Medvedev maintained high levels of concentration from the outset, showing resilience even in the face of double faults. De Minaur managed to claim some ground in the second set, but Medvedev secured a crucial break at 5:4, shortly converting his first match point, celebrating with a dramatic gesture of holding his ears.
Alcaraz Faces Health Challenges
Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz is currently battling health issues, having cut his training session short after just a few minutes due to feeling unwell. He disclosed on Monday that he has been suffering from stomach problems since before the tournament began, following his opening loss to Casper Ruud.
It remains uncertain whether Alcaraz will be fit to compete against Russian Andrey Rublev in his second group match on Wednesday. On Friday, he is set to face Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the group stage.
Zverev, fresh off a victory in his ATP Finals debut, shared insights about the tournament in a recent interview.
Dimitrov and Tsitsipas on Standby
Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas are on standby in Turin as substitutes, ready to step in if any player withdraws. Alcaraz is also slated to compete in the upcoming Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, where tennis legend Rafael Nadal will make his farewell appearance.
The ATP Finals, featuring the top eight male tennis players of the season, boasts an impressive prize pool of $15.25 million. The tournament is organized into two groups of four, with the top two players from each group advancing to the semifinals.
Notably, Novak Djokovic will miss the ATP Finals in Turin due to injury, while Alexander Zverev enters the tournament in excellent form as the new world number two.