ATP Finals Jannik Sinner Defeats Taylor Fritz, Nears Semifinals

Jannik Sinner accelerated his game at crucial moments to defeat Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday, moving closer to a semi-final spot at the ATP Finals in Turin. In their last encounter at the US Open final, Sinner also claimed victory over Fritz in straight sets, despite facing a lively American crowd. However, this time, Sinner had enthusiastic home support in Turin.

“The crowd is helping me a lot,” Sinner remarked on the court, acknowledging the local fans’ energy.

Fritz, ranked fifth, tested Sinner’s serve early in the match, earning a break point in the lengthy seventh game, which lasted 14 minutes, but he couldn’t capitalize. Sinner responded by applying pressure and eventually broke Fritz in the 10th game to secure the first set.

“I was struggling with his serve returns, but I’m happy with how I managed it,” Sinner said.

The second set followed a similar pattern until the 10th game when Fritz double-faulted on Sinner’s first match point, handing the Italian a straight-sets victory.

“It was a tough match,” Sinner added. “We know each other well from the Grand Slam final, so we were prepared for a very aggressive game today.”

This win places Sinner at the top of the Ilie Nastase group, with Daniil Medvedev remaining as his next opponent. However, a straight-sets loss could still see Sinner eliminated. Meanwhile, Fritz will face Alex de Minaur, who has yet to win a match.

In the earlier match, Daniil Medvedev rebounded from his opening loss by defeating Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-4, boosting his chances of advancing. Medvedev, who won the Finals in 2020, dominated the match, breaking De Minaur’s serve three times and not facing any break points himself.

Reflecting on his mindset, Medvedev said, “I chose not to worry too much. If I lose, the season ends, and if I win, I get another shot on Thursday.”

Medvedev maintained control from the start, breaking for a 2-1 lead in the first set and not looking back. He hit 16 winners in the first set and lost only two points on his serve in the second.

A decisive break in the ninth game of the second set allowed him to secure the win with a comfortable final hold.