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Inside Zverev & Alcaraz's World No. 2 battle

  • Posted: Nov 11, 2024

Jannik Sinner wrapped ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours in October, but the battle for year-end No. 2 is still up for grabs.

Alexander Zverev enters the Nitto ATP Finals in pole position to finish just behind Sinner. The German holds a 505-point lead over No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, but the Spaniard still has an opportunity to swap places with the two-time season finale champion.

A player could earn 1,500 points with an undefeated run to the title at the Inalpi Arena, giving Alcaraz a chance to overcome that deficit. Each round-robin win is worth 200 PIF ATP Rankings points, semi-final victories 400 points and a triumph in the final 500 points.

PIF ATP Live Rankings (entering 11 November)

 Player  Points
 1) Jannik Sinner  10,530
 2) Alexander Zverev   7,315
 3) Carlos Alcaraz  6,810
 4) Daniil Medvedev  4,830
 5) Taylor Fritz  4,500
 6) Novak Djokovic  3,910
 7) Casper Ruud  3,855
 8) Andrey Rublev  3,760
 9) Alex de Minaur  3,745
 10) Grigor Dimitrov  3,350

Zverev and Alcaraz are both in the John Newcombe Group, so they are guaranteed to meet at least once in Turin. That could prove pivotal in the battle for World No. 2. Alcaraz is trying to finish in the top two for the third consecutive year, while Zverev is attempting to do so for the first time.

Daniil Medvedev is currently live World No. 4, 330 points ahead of No. 5 Taylor Fritz, whose win against the 2020 Nitto ATP Finals champion helped narrow the gap.

Fritz is trying to become the first American to finish in the year-end top four since James Blake was No. 4 in 2006.

Novak Djokovic could fall as low as World No. 9 by the end of Tuesday. The Serbian is live World No. 6 with 3,910 points.

No. 7 Casper Ruud (3,855), No. 8 Andrey Rublev (3,760) and No. 9 Alex de Minaur (3,745) are all within 200 points of them, so they each need just one round-robin win to pass Djokovic.

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Sinner on De Minaur win: 'I'm glad I managed this level'

  • Posted: Nov 11, 2024

After one month without competitive tennis, perhaps Jannik Sinner surprised himself with the calibre of tennis he produced on Sunday night at the Nitto ATP Finals.

The No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings admitted to feeling some rust in the early stages of his opening match against debutant Alex de Minaur, but it wasn’t long before he was near his blistering best. After trailing an early break, Sinner found his rhythm and wrapped up victory in 85 minutes to kick-start his quest for a maiden trophy at the prestigious season finale. 

“I’m glad that I managed to play this kind of level today,” said Sinner, whose last tour-level match was his Shanghai Masters triumph in October. “It’s a great start for my side for this event, for this tournament, considering I haven’t played an official match in four weeks.

“Every match, it’s very difficult to play against him. He’s a great fighter. You have to earn every point you play. Every time we play, he changes a couple of things, so I have to be very aware. It’s very difficult. We don’t have to see only the result, but also how the match goes.”

Sinner, who notched his Tour-leading 66th win of 2024 (alongside Alexander Zverev), is bidding to become just the third player to win the Australian Open, US Open and Nitto ATP Finals in one season (Federer, Djokovic). With his win over De Minaur, the 23-year-old is level with Taylor Fritz – his next opponent – at the top of the Ilie Nastase Group.

“He [Fritz] has improved a lot in the past one and a half, two years,” added Sinner, who leads Fritz 2-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. “He’s serving much better [and] hitting the ball very, very hard. He’s a great competitor.

“I have to be at my top if I want to win or if I want to get close. I practised with him at the beginning of the week. It was a very tough practice set. It’s going to be tough, this I know. I know that I have to raise my level. Hopefully I can do that, then we see how it goes.”

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Sinner sweeps past De Minaur in Turin opener

  • Posted: Nov 10, 2024

Jannik Sinner quickly shook off some early rust to power to an impressive opening victory on Sunday night at the Nitto ATP Finals.

The home favourite prevailed 6-3, 6-4 against Alex de Minaur to kick-start his 2024 campaign at the prestigious season finale. Competing in his first match since he lifted the Rolex Shanghai Masters trophy on 13 October, Sinner responded superbly to dropping serve in the third game of the match against De Minaur. He wrapped victory in 85 minutes at Inalpi Arena to move to 1-0 in Ilie Nastase Group.

“Considering [how long since I last played], I’m very happy,” said Sinner. “I started off with some unforced errors. He was playing great in the beginning of the match, so I just tried to stay there mentally, knowing that hopefully at some point my tennis would arrive. It arrived quite early, and I started to return very well.

“My serve, for sure I have to improve if I want to [win] the next match. Against Taylor [Fritz] for example, today he played really well. Let’s see, but today I’m very pleased about the win and hopefully this can give me confidence for the next one.”

A finalist at the Nitto ATP Finals a year ago, Sinner this year returned to Turin as the first Italian No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings history. Despite his early lapse on serve against De Minaur, the 23-year-old showed few signs of nerves in his first tour-level match on home soil for 12 months. He pulled De Minaur around the court with heavy groundstrokes off both wings and was consistently aggressive on return.

After winning four straight games from 1-2 en route to the opening set, Sinner notched the decisive break of the second set in the fifth game. He completed victory to the delight of his home crowd, which included some of his fellow Italian sports stars: His fellow ATP stars Flavio Cobolli and Lorenzo Sonego, WTA World No. 4 Jasmine Paolini, and former Italy and Juventus football star Giorgio Chiellini were among those cheering Sinner on.

“It has to be the crowd,” said Sinner, when asked for his favourite thing about playing at home. “It has to be the energy. I love to play at home. It’s a huge honour, and I was just looking forward to it. Today was a great night. I didn’t play Rome [this year], so it was the first match [in 2024] in Italy. The welcome was very warm, very amazing. I can’t wait for the next one.”

Sinner demonstrated the sort of baseline firepower that has been the foundation of his rise to World No. 1 against De Minaur. He outhit the Australian by 19 winners to seven, while he also won 81 per cent (26/32) of points behind his first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

With Sunday’s win, Sinner improved to 8-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Nitto ATP Finals debutant De Minaur. He has now won seven consecutive tour-level matches and has registered a joint Tour-leading 66 wins this year (alongside Alexander Zverev). The Italian will seek to extend his winning streak to eight matches on Tuesday when he takes on Daniil Medvedev or Taylor Fritz in his second group-stage match.

It was never going to be an easy task for De Minaur to overcome the World No. 1 in his maiden appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, but the 25-year-old can still make it out of the Ilie Nastase Group with strong performances against Medvedev and Fritz.

“I knew I had my work cut out,” said De Minaur. “I thought I started well, then I kind of slipped away. I just couldn’t sustain the level that I needed today to beat Jannik.

“His ball speed, in my eyes, is so much higher than basically the rest of the people. From both sides he’s solid. He keeps on improving. He’s improved his serve so much throughout the years.

“I always rate my chances [of progressing out of the group]. I think the way I see it is that Jannik was the only player in the group who I hadn’t had a win against. The rest of the players I’ve had some success against. Now I’m not playing the No. 1 in the world anymore, I’ll be looking forward to that.”

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Sinner, Zverev, Alcaraz & Co. feature in Vogue

  • Posted: Nov 10, 2024

For the elite eight who have earned the right to compete at this year’s Nitto ATP Finals, their fortnight in Turin extends further than the court inside the Inalpi Arena.

Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev and Alex de Minaur all swapped their racquets for a fine dress shirt on Thursday for a photo shoot with Vogue.

The players reflected on their years, both on and off the court, before gathering for group photos in their finest attire. You can read more about the day on the Vogue website. 

<img alt=”Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz ” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/11/10/17/56/alcaraz-sinner-vogue-atp-finals-2024.jpg?w=100%25″ />Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

“Seeing my parents after Australia,” Sinner responded when asked of his best moment off the court. “Just seeing them happy and spending time with them. I don’t have so much time with my parents, so it was a very nice moment.”

The fourth edition of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin got underway on Sunday, with World No. 1 Sinner and No. 3 Alcaraz among those seeking their maiden crown at the prestigious season finale.

<img alt=”Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Andrey Rublev, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/11/10/18/01/vogue-atp-finals-2024-group.jpg?w=100%25″ />Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

<img alt=”Taylor Fritz” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/11/10/18/03/fritz-vogue-atp-finals-2024.jpg” />Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

<img alt=”Alex de Minaur” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/11/10/18/05/de-minaur-vogue-atp-finals-2024.jpg” />Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

<img alt=”Daniil Medvedev” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/11/10/20/24/medvedev-vogue-nitto-atp-finals.jpg” />Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour<img alt=”Andrey Rublev, Taylor Fritz, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud ” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/11/10/20/31/rublev-vogue-atp-finals.jpg” />

Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Heliovaara/Patten mark Nitto ATP Finals debut with commanding win

  • Posted: Nov 10, 2024

Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten could not have asked for a better way to kick-start their debut run at the Nitto ATP Finals.

The seventh seeds produced a steely performance Sunday to defeat 2023 finalists Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 7-6(2), 6-4 and open their account in Turin. Heliovaara and Patten carried their momentum from a dominant first-set tie-break to move ahead early in the second. They commanded on serve throughout the encounter, during which they saved each of the two break points they faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

“[We’re] very, very pleased, we really showed we are here and one of the top eight teams,” said Heliovaara. “We played a great match. We didn’t lose our serve once and we stayed offensive when it mattered. We followed our game plan so well and I think we deserved the win.”

Heliovaara and Patten’s exquisite touch was on full display in the tie-break, and the pair did not look back. In the third game of the second set, they each found a pinpoint return to clinch the opening break of the match, one that proved to be decisive. 

“It’s quite a quick court, so it’s difficult to break,” Patten added. “You don’t want to give your opponents any opportunities to do that. We’re both extremely pleased. We fended off some break points at times and served it out well in the end.”

The British-Finnish duo is bidding to become the first team to capture the Wimbledon and Nitto ATP Finals trophy in the same season since Mike Bryan and Jack Sock in 2018.

After defeating Granollers and Zeballos, the No. 2 team in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings, Heliovaara and Patten lie second in the Mike Bryan Group. Earlier, Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson edged 2020 Nitto ATP Finals champions Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic 7-6(1), 6-3 to move top.

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Zverev & Rublev renew rivalry in Turin

  • Posted: Nov 10, 2024

The 2024 Nitto ATP Finals continues Monday, after which all eight singles players and all eight doubles teams in Turin will have played one match.

The John Newcombe Group begins singles play on Day 2, with Alexander Zverev taking on Andrey Rublev and Carlos Alcaraz meeting Casper Ruud. In doubles action, top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic face Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz before Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori play Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden.

[ATP APP]

[2] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. [8] Andrey Rublev
Zverev played the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals at the seventh seed to cap his comeback season from ankle surgery. He notched two wins, but it was not enough to make the knockout rounds.

This season, the German enters Turin as the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings behind his ATP Masters 1000 titles in Rome and Paris, as well as a runner-up finish at Roland Garros.

“In 2023, I didn’t feel like I was competitive in big events. I was far away from winning them,” Zverev said in Turin. “Being able to compete and make Grand Slam finals, win Masters 1000 events, that is a big satisfaction to me because there were obviously question marks if I was ever going to do that again after the injury.”

 

While Zverev clinched his return to the Nitto ATP Finals on 1 September, when he advanced to the US Open quarter-finals, Rublev had to battle through the final week in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. In what he called a “rollercoaster” season, the 27-year-old won titles at the Madrid ATP Masters 1000 and in Hong Kong.

“It doesn’t matter what negative thoughts I was giving myself about this season — that the season might not be as good, or could be the worst season of my career, or whatever — but realistically I was able to make it here.” Rublev said in Turin. “And to make it here you need to have a really good season.”

He will hope to make his year even better by reaching the knockout rounds for the second time in his fifth consecutive Nitto ATP Finals appearance.

Zverev leads Rublev 6-3 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, though Rublev won three of their four 2023 meetings. Zverev’s lone victory against Rublev last season came in Turin. While Rublev is wary of Zverev’s aggressive yet high-percentage serving, Zverev is focused on neutralising his opponent’s power in their rematch.

“[He’s a] powerful, extremely fast player,” the German said of Rublev. “He tries to overpower you. The most important thing against him is to not let him.”

Day 2 Preview Alcaraz v Ruud

[3] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs. [6] Casper Ruud (NOR)
Champion at four tour-level events this season, including Wimbledon, Roland Garros and Indian Wells, Alcaraz is seeking his first Nitto ATP Finals title. The Spaniard is making just his second appearance at the year-end event, after reaching the semi-finals last year. Alcaraz also qualified for the season finale in 2022, when he earned ATP Year-End No.1 presented by PIF honours — but he missed out with an abdominal injury.

Alcaraz lost his opening match last year in Turin to Zverev, but enters this year “with a lot of motivation” to make a fast start: “I come here a little bit different,” he said. “I approach this tournament a little differently, knowing there are things I have to change if I am to have a good result here and go far.”

 

The Spaniard owns a 4-0 Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Ruud, including a four-set win in the 2023 US Open final that doubled as a shootout for World No. 1.

While Alcaraz rated his 2024 season to date an 8.5 out of 10, Ruud gave the Spaniard top marks on his young career as a whole.

“His career [is] already close to legendary,” the Norwegian said of his opponent. “I love watching him play. He is so great for the sport. I don’t necessarily always love playing him because [he is] really tough. It typically comes down to fun points. He is so electric, he can hit any shot in the world.”

While Alcaraz may have the more glittering career, Ruud has a leg up when it comes to Nitto ATP Finals success. The Norwegian has advanced to the knockout rounds in each of his two previous appearances, reaching the 2021 semis and the 2022 final. He owns a 5-4 record at the season finale, compared to Alcaraz’s 2-2 mark.

Doubles Action
Top seeds Arevalo and Pavic won four titles together in their first season as a team, including at Roland Garros and the ATP Masters 1000 in Cincinnati. The first doubles team to qualify for Turin this year, the Salvadoran/Croatian pair also reached the final at the Rome Masters 1000. They take on Krawietz and Puetz, the 2019 and 2020 Roland Garros champs whose lone 2024 title came on home soil in Hamburg.

Bolelli and Vavassori earned the fourth seed in Turin with three titles this season, one on each surface. Their opponents, sixth seeds Bopanna and Ebden, won the Australian Open and Miami crowns in 2024.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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'Happy' Nishikori wins Helsinki Challenger title

  • Posted: Nov 10, 2024

Kei Nishikori returned to the winner’s circle on Sunday.

The former No. 4 player in the PIF ATP Rankings claimed his first title of the season when he won the ATP Challenger Tour event in Helsinki. He defeated Luca Nardi 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to triumph at the HPP Open.

“It’s great,” Nishikori said. “It’s been a long time since I won a title. This was a really tough week, tough final. Luca played really good in the final. I almost lost my chance, but I was able to play solid in the end.”

“It was not easy. Semi-final was tough, played two and a half hours and recovered for today and played another three sets. Not easy, but this is my last tournament of the year so I just tried to give 100 per cent for this match today and I think I did very well.”

Nishikori has won 25 of his past 29 matches on the ATP Challenger Tour dating back to the Dallas Challenger in 2018.

The 34-year-old was World No. 576 in August, but has quickly climbed towards the verge of the Top 100. The 12-time ATP Tour titlist reached the quarter-finals at the Canadian ATP Masters 1000 event in August and the quarter-finals in Tokyo.

“I’m close to the Top 100 now, so next goal is Top 50 and just keep winning,” Nishikori said when asked about his 2025 goals.

[ATP APP]

Nishikori in the Helsinki quarter-finals defeated Jacob Fearnley in straight sets. Fearnley entered the match with a 27-3 record on the ATP Challenger Tour this year.

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The Aftermatch: From best-dressed to hair dilemma, Fritz goes Live to reveal all

  • Posted: Nov 10, 2024

Taylor Fritz brought his A-game on Sunday not just to the court but also to Instagram Live, where he became the very first guest on ‘The Aftermatch’ with host Max Whittle.

Fans got to see Fritz’s fun side when he spilled the tea in this lively post-match chat!

After clinching a win against Daniil Medvedev at the Nitto ATP Finals, the 27-year-old shared all. He cracked jokes about his recent viral hair transformation, dished on who stole the show as the best-dressed at media day, and even got a surprise gift from Whittle.

Catch the must-watch Live interview below – it’s the post-match breakdown you didn’t know you needed!

Tune in across ATP Tour and Nitto ATP Finals social channels after every daytime singles match during the event to watch more of your favourite stars go Live.

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