Tennis season finale
Amid cheers: Sinner wins second appearance in Turin
Local hero Jannik Sinner underlines his role as favorite at the prestigious year-end tournament.
In front of his home crowd, Italy’s tennis star Jannik Sinner took a huge step towards the hoped-for semi-finals at the season finale. In the 6:4, 6:4 against the American Taylor Fritz, the world number one thrilled his fans and celebrated his second victory in the second group game. To the cheers of the 13,000 spectators in the Turin multi-purpose hall, Sinner decided the game after 1:40 hours and remained without losing a set.
Sinner still faces a ban
Sinner triumphed against Fritz in the final of the US Open in September. Shortly before the New York Grand Slam tournament, his acquittal after two positive doping tests became public. He still faces a ban after an objection from the World Anti-Doping Agency Wada.
In Turin, the crowd favorite is the top favorite at the end of the season for the eight most successful tennis men of the year, which is worth $15.25 million. The ATP Finals will initially be held with group games. Whoever finishes first or second will reach the semi-finals.
Sinner will face former tournament winner Daniil Medvedev on Thursday, who can still hope to reach the semi-finals. Two days after his opening defeat, the world number four from Russia defeated the Australian tournament debutant Alex de Minaur 6:2, 6:4. Medvedev had previously lost out to Fritz and lost his nerve.
Good prospects for Zverev
In the other group, Alexander Zverev could, in the best case scenario, make it to the semi-finals on Wednesday (8.30 p.m./Sky). The Hamburg co-favorite meets the Norwegian Casper Ruud. The 27-year-old won his first group game against Russian Andrej Rublev.
dpa
