Tennis News

Sinner wary of Fritz revenge bid in Turin title match

It’s a high bar to suggest that Jannik Sinner has unfinished business at the end of a season in which he earned his first two Grand Slams among seven titles and became the first Italian man to claim ATP Year-end No. 1 honours presented by PIF.

Yet one burning ambition remains to make the season feel truly complete. Twelve months on from an uncharacteristically flat performance against Novak Djokovic in the Nitto ATP Finals title match, Sinner is looking to win the season finale for the first time in front of his adoring fans, who walked out of the Inalpi Arena deflated.

Much work is to be done Sunday to make the dream a reality, however, as the 23-year-old faces a fifth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting (all on hard) with Taylor Fritz, who snapped the eight-match winning streak of two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev in a gripping semi-final Saturday to move to a career-high No. 4 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

Fritz, the first American to reach the final since James Blake in 2006, claimed the first of the pair’s meetings at Indian Wells in 2021, but Sinner has won the past three, including a straight-sets win in group play earlier this week, and in September’s US Open final.

<img alt=”Nitto ATP Finals preview data” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/11/16/21/57/tdi-turin-final-graphic.jpg” />
Graphic courtesy TDI

Sinner may feel that he will have a slight edge in baseline exchanges – despite Fritz holding his own in extended crosscourt backhand battles with Zverev in the semis – but the American could negate that if he has a big night on serve.

Key will be the number of first serves he puts into play. The 27-year-old American leads the tournament with a first-serve winning percentage of 83.6. But his second-serve winning percentage of 42.2 is lowest among the Elite Eight. [Sinner heads the list at this year’s tournament with 66.7 per cent.]

With Sinner also topping the charts with a 64 per cent winning ratio returning second serves, Fritz has a decision to make: Take something off the first serve and get more into play, or back himself to have an exceptional night on first serve. The approach – and execution – could be the key to the match.

In his 6-4, 6-4 loss to Sinner on Tuesday, Fritz won just 38 per cent of second-serve points while Sinner won 59 per cent. The Californian will be keen to not give Sinner too many looks at his second delivery on Sunday.

Players with 25 or less games lost en route to Nitto ATP Finals championship match

*Played just three matches

After advancing to the final and contemplating a possible rematch with Sinner, Fritz said that he felt better about his defeat in group play this week than he did after his US Open lost to the Italian.

“The US Open felt like I was kind of just trying to keep myself in with my serve, stay alive, win points by hitting big shots or playing off of his errors. Kind of just like not repeatable, consistent ways to win points,” Fritz said.

“The match we played here…. I felt much more comfortable from the baseline. I had my chances in that match. I had chances to break him in both sets. He had an equal amount of chances, and he took his. He played the big points better than I did in the group stage match.”

Sinner, who won the Australian Open and US Open this year, will be desperate to avoid again seeing a vanquished round-robin opponent gain his revenge in the final. Last year, in one of the best matches of the season, Sinner toppled Djokovic in a third-set tie-break in group play, only to fall to the Serbian 6-3, 6-3 in the final.

Asked to look ahead to the final, Sinner said, “It’s a very similar position as I was in last year. Just I’ve grown in 12 months now as a player. Tomorrow is going to be a very interesting day in any case. I’m happy again to be in this position. It’s a very special occasion.”

Fresh off his semi-final defeat to he Italian, Casper Ruud was asked to compare Sinner to seven-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Djokovic, the Norwegian replied: “Jannik hits a faster ball than Novak. He doesn’t let you breathe. With Novak you can play rallies. Not going to say easier to play Novak because he’s the best in the history. At least with Novak you can play more rallies and not be terrified of Novak ripping, like, a bomb down the line or cross-court or these things,” Ruud said.

Sunday’s title match begins at 6 p.m. CET/12 noon ET.

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Arevalo/Pavic face Krawietz/Puetz for 7th time this season in Turin final

Just as World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will look to cap his banner year with the Nitto ATP Finals title Sunday, so too will year-end doubles No. 1 team Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, who meet Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz for the seventh time this season.

Salvadoran Arevalo and Croatian Pavic fell in straight sets when the teams met in group play this week, and trail the Germans 2-4 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Arevalo and Pavic had won just three matches against all opposition since falling to the Germans in the US Open semi-finals, but are now in position to punctuate their year with a fifth title of the season and first since Cincinnati in August.

“It means a lot. I think this was the goal at the beginning of the tournament and also ending the season in the best way possible,” Arevalo said of the title quest.

Having saved a match point in Saturday’s semi-final against Aussie duo Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell, Krawietz and Puetz have the chance to become the first all-German duo to win the Nitto ATP Finals doubles crown.

“We knew when we came here we could beat everyone,” Krawietz said. “Being No. 8, we were happy to qualify here and then just tried to see what we could do and it has worked out very well.”

The doubles final begins at 3 p.m. CET/9 a.m. ET.

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Sinner sets up Fritz title clash at ATP Finals

World number one Jannik Sinner will face Taylor Fritz in the ATP Finals title match as he bids to become the first Italian to win the season-ending tournament.

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Zverev: 'This one will hurt more'

Alexander Zverev was close to solving the Taylor Fritz puzzle, but fell short again.

On Saturday, the 27-year-old lost to the inspired American in the semi-finals at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. In a tight three-set battle where only a few points set the two apart, Zverev admitted he fell short at crucial moments.

“This one will hurt maybe a bit more because I thought I played at a decent level and I had more chances generally in the third set. I felt like statistically and shot-wise, my level maybe was even higher than his until the important moments. That’s where I kind of blew it. This one will hurt more than the other few,” said Zverev.

“I didn’t use my chances in the third set at all. I feel like I had more than enough. I played a below-average tie-break, I would say. A lot worse than what the level was throughout the third set from my end.”

In one of the most noteworthy rivalries of 2024, Zverev and Fritz faced each other five times, including battles at Wimbledon and the US Open, which went Fritz’s way. Overall, the American, enjoying his best season on the Tour, edged Zverev 4-1 in the Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

The two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion acknowledged the improvements he has seen in the US Open finalist’s game.

“His forehand used to break down quite a lot. His forehand was always fast, and very aggressive, but it was very shaky in important moments. He could hit a winner, but he could hit the fence, as well. I feel like the ratio is a lot more towards winners now than hitting the fence. His forehand doesn’t break down as much as it used to,” he said.

“I think that’s the shot that improved the most for him.”

Zverev, who notched a perfect 3-0 round-robin record at the prestigious season finale, including a straight-sets win over Carlos Alcaraz in his last group stage match on Friday, admitted he felt different against Fritz in the semi-final.

“I felt a bit more empty today. Yesterday I felt full of energy. I was like a jumping ball. I could move and I could run no matter how long. Today I felt more empty, especially in the beginning. The longer the match went on, the better I felt. In the beginning of the match, I struggled. In the warm-up I struggled as well,” he shared.

“It was one of those days where everything takes time to get going. It’s not a natural flow to movement patterns, to your shots as well, to just how you wake up in the morning. Everything is a little bit more tiring. I felt that way today.

“Against Carlos, it was the highlight of the tournament. Probably the highest-level match that the tournament has seen so far. Unfortunately, I didn’t back it up at the level in the first set.”

Zverev, who has sealed his status as the year-end No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, also reflected on his journey this year. The German won two titles and registered a 69-21 record this season according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

“I played some fantastic matches. I’ve won 65 matches, something like that. It’s been an interesting year for me, especially after the injury. It was kind of my first year completely back competing at this level and competing for big tournaments. I won two Masters events (Rome and Paris),” said Zverev.

“But what stays in mind I think are the tough losses that you had. What will stay in my mind is the Australian Open loss against Daniil, and the French Open final against Carlos. Those are the matches that stay in my mind. You can trust me, I’m going to do everything I can to be back in the same moments, in the same position next year. I’m going to do everything I can to win.”

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Hewett & Reid miss out on Masters doubles title

Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid fail to retain their Wheelchair Masters doubles title with a straight-set defeat by Martin de la Puente and Joachim Gerard in the Netherlands.

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Paolini doubles up to lead Italy into BJK Cup semis

Jasmine Paolini wins both her singles and doubles matches to lead Italy into the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals with victory over Japan.

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Zverev successfully uses Video Review in Nitto ATP Finals SFs

Video Review led to the overturn of a call and the replay of a point on Saturday in the Nitto ATP Finals semi-final between Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz.

At 1-0 in the second set, Zverev rushed forward and lunged to retrieve a ball with a backhand swipe. Chair umpire Adel Nour called not up, awarding the point to Fritz.

However, upon Video Review requested by Zverev, Nour overturned his call and ordered that the point be replayed. Zverev then won the replayed point.

When a reviewable call is challenged, the Video Review operator finds the best view of the incident through available camera angles, then sends the video to a screen attached to the umpire’s chair. The umpire then reviews the video to determine if there is clear evidence to support the original decision or to overturn the decision. If there is no clear evidence, the original decision stands.

Video Review was also used successfully last year in Turin. In a doubles match between Ivan Dodig/Austin Krajicek and Maximo Gonzalez/Andres Molteni, Gonzalez reflexed a volley through the court and a touch was called on Krajicek, who tried to move his racquet out of the way of the incoming ball. The review showed he had not touched the ball, and the point was replayed.

Video Review debuted on the ATP Tour in 2018 at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. It was first used at the Nitto ATP Finals in 2020.

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Name the year of retiring Nadal's French Open wins

Rafael Nadal won the French Open singles title an astonishing 14 times – can you name the years?

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Boulter & Raducanu put GB into BJK Cup quarter-finals

Emma Raducanu makes a winning return from injury before Katie Boulter secures Great Britain’s place in the Billie Jean King Cup quarter-finals.

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Turin SF Preview: Sinner vs. Ruud, Zverev vs. Fritz

After six days of elite group-stage action at the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals, Saturday begins the knockout rounds in Turin.

Home favourite Jannik Sinner, the No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, will seek to continue his perfect week when he takes on Casper Ruud in the Inalpi Arena. World No. 2 Alexander Zverev, who also posted a 3-0 round-robin record, will meet Taylor Fritz.

In doubles action, Aussies Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson take on Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz before top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic play Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.

[1] Jannik Sinner (ITA) vs. [6] Casper Ruud (NOR)
Playing on home soil for the first time this year — and for the first time as World No. 1 — Sinner has soared into the semis without dropping a set. The Italian has not lost more than four games in a single frame and was broken just twice on four break chances combined against De Minaur, Fritz and Medvedev.

“The atmosphere here is amazing, so I’m just trying to play some good tennis this week,” Sinner said after completing his undefeated group-stage campaign.

His perfect start on the Inalpi Arena’s indoor hard court continues a brilliant season highlighted by a tour-leading seven titles. Six of those trophies have come on hard courts, including his first two Grand Slam titles (Australian Open, US Open) and three ATP Masters 1000s crowns (Miami, Cincinnati, Shanghai).

“I know what I have achieved during this year, so I try to step on court with a good mindset,” he said of his continued success. “I have beautiful people around me who support me daily, which for me is really important. I try to enjoy my time on the court.”

Ruud, whose two 2024 titles came on the clay of Barcelona and Geneva, has the unenviable task of trying to slow Sinner’s roll on the pavement. He has yet to take a set off the Italian in two previous Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings. Both of those matchups came on indoor hard courts in Vienna, but it’s been more than three years since their last encounter.

The Norwegian could have no better preparation for the World No. 1 than the gauntlet he faced to reach the semis. After beating Alcaraz, the No. 3 man in the PIF ATP Rankings, Ruud allowed just one break point in a tight defeat to World No. 2 Zverev. Knowing he needed to win a set against Andrey Rublev to secure his semi-final place, he went one better and won the match to wrap his group campaign at 2-1.

The task will only get tougher on Saturday, when he will have to handle both a red-hot Sinner and the Italian crowd.

“He is the best player in the world all year and is playing at home and has not dropped a set all week,” Ruud said. “He is the player to beat this year and I am going to do my best. It seems like this guy almost forgot how to lose. I will see if I can come up with something to challenge here. I will be prepared for probably the toughest match of the year.”

<img alt=”Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/11/15/18/05/zverev-fritz-turin-2024-sf-h2h.jpg” />

[2] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. [5] Taylor Fritz (USA)
Zverev and Fritz have been among the busiest players on the ATP Tour this season. They are two of just five men with more than 50 match wins on the year, joining fellow Turin competitors Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Ruud.

With the Nitto ATP Finals title on the line, both men will have plenty more in the tank.

“I think a lot of us are pretty beat up,” Fritz said after his three-set win against Alex de Minaur on Thursday. “But if I’m in the semis of the [Nitto ATP Finals], I’ve got energy to give.”

Their semi-final meeting will be Zverev’s 90th match of 2024 (69-20) and Fritz’s 74th (51-22). It will also be their fifth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting of 2024.

“I’m happy with being 3-0 in the group for sure, but I think now the semi-final is going to be very difficult,” said Zverev, who trails Fritz 5-6 in their rivalry. “[Taylor] beat me the past few times at the Slams, so I’m looking forward to that match.”

Zverev defeated the American this year in the Rome quarter-finals, but Fritz prevailed at Wimbledon in five sets, at the US Open in four and at Laver Cup in two. Fritz’s three-match winning streak against Zverev marks the first time either man has beaten the other three times in a row. But the German’s form — and his status as year-end No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings — makes him the slight favourite in Turin.

Fritz nearly pulled off the upset against Sinner in the round-robin stage, giving the home favourite all he could handle in two tight sets before being broken in the final game of each. He then dropped the opening set against Alex de Minaur before finding his serve to turn that match around and, ultimately, seal his semi-final place.

In this Saturday showdown, both men will look to use their big serves to set the tone. The ideal formula is a simple one: dominate service games and pile on the pressure when returning. But nothing is simple at the Nitto ATP Finals.

Doubles SFs
Thursday’s results meant Arevalo and Pavic clinched Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF honours as a team for the first time. On Friday, the Turin top seeds beat home favourites Bolelli and Vavassori to seal their place in the semi-finals.

The Salvadoran/Croatian pair will hope to continue their positive streak against the in-form team of the tournament, Heliovaara and Patten. Exceeding their billing as seventh seeds, the British/Finnish team was the lone doubles duo to post a 3-0 group record this week.

The opposite semi-final will see two pairs of countrymen square off as fifth-seeded Aussies Purcell and Thompson take on eighth-seeded Germans Krawietz and Puetz. Both teams finished round-robin play at 2-1. The Aussies finished second in the Mike Bryan Group while the Germans topped the Bob Bryan group thanks to their 5-2 set record.

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