Jannik Sinner is on the brink of reaching the ATP Finals semifinals in Turin after defeating Taylor Fritz 6:4, 6:4. He will face Daniil Medvedev next, who recently secured a win against Alex de Minaur. Medvedev expressed satisfaction with his performance, aiming to advance further. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz is dealing with health issues that may affect his upcoming matches. Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas are on standby for potential withdrawals in the tournament, which features a $15.25 million prize pool.
Jannik Sinner, the crowd favorite, has his eyes set on the semifinals of the ATP Finals in Turin. The world number one from South Tyrol clinched a thrilling rematch of the US Open final against American Taylor Fritz, winning with a score of 6:4, 6:4.
With two consecutive victories, Sinner’s path to the semifinals is almost assured, barring a complex three-way comparison scenario.
On Thursday, Sinner will take on Russian star Daniil Medvedev, who has one win in his group. Meanwhile, Fritz also holds one victory from two matches; he lost to Sinner but triumphed over Medvedev. Fritz will compete against Australian Alex de Minaur, who is still seeking his first win and has lost the chance for a semifinal berth.
Sinner Shines in Front of Home Fans
Despite facing potential doping concerns, Sinner has dominated the circuit for much of the year, securing major titles in both Melbourne and New York. He was recently honored by Boris Becker for his remarkable debut as world number one at the end of the season. The Italian has been the standout performer at this year’s season finale set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Alps, and he continues to impress.
Fritz Fights Back
Following his smooth opening win against de Minaur, Sinner initially faced challenges in maintaining his serve against Fritz, who matched him point for point. At 4:3 in the first set, Fritz saved three break points, but soon after, he faltered, allowing Sinner to seize the moment and take the first set.
Medvedev Aims for the Semifinals
Daniil Medvedev showcased a composed performance after a tumultuous opening loss at the ATP Finals, keeping his hopes for the semifinals alive. The Russian star achieved a convincing victory over Australian newcomer Alex de Minaur, winning 6:2, 6:4, and has a chance to advance on his own terms in the final group match against Sinner.
Medvedev: ‘A Vast Improvement’
Medvedev expressed his satisfaction post-match, stating, ‘I am pleased with my performance.’ He noted that it didn’t matter whether he won or lost as long as he played well, adding, ‘I played 26 times better than in my first match.’
De Minaur’s chances of progressing are out of his hands; a win by Fritz later in the evening against Sinner would eliminate the world number nine from contention.
Overcoming Fatigue and Frustration
For Medvedev, this marked his first win on tour in over a month. He had discussed his mental fatigue towards the end of the season. His earlier loss against Fritz had left him visibly frustrated, which he expressed through his racket. However, against de Minaur, Medvedev played with heightened focus from the outset, remaining calm even amid double faults. He secured a critical break at 5:4 in the second set before converting his first match point to clinch the victory, celebrating by covering his ears in a show of triumph.
Alcaraz Faces Health Challenges
Spain’s rising star Carlos Alcaraz is currently grappling with health issues. The 21-year-old had to cut his training short on Tuesday due to feeling unwell. After his opening loss to Casper Ruud, he disclosed that he was dealing with stomach problems and had been under the weather prior to the season finale.
It remains uncertain whether Alcaraz will compete in his upcoming match against Russian Andrey Rublev on Wednesday. On Friday, he is set to face Germany’s Alexander Zverev.
Zverev recently won his opening match at the ATP Finals and shared insights about the tournament in a Sportschau interview.
Dimitrov and Tsitsipas Standby
Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas are on standby in Turin, ready to step in if a player withdraws. After the ATP Finals, Alcaraz plans to participate in the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, where sand court legend Rafael Nadal will make his farewell appearance.
This prestigious event features the top eight male tennis players of the season, boasting a prize pool of $15.25 million, and consists of two groups of four, from which the top two players will advance.
Novak Djokovic is notably absent from the ATP Finals in Turin due to injury, while Alexander Zverev enters the tournament in excellent form as the newly crowned world number two.