Relentless Sinner beats Fritz for second group win at ATP Finals

World No 1 Jannik Sinner all but assured himself of a place in the semi-finals of the ATP Finals on Tuesday as he beat a valiant Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in a match of brilliant ball-striking in front of an adoring Inalpi Arena crowd in Turin.

In a repeat of the US Open final, won by the Italian, Fritz threw everything at Sinner and for much of the first set was the better player but Sinner bided his time, snatched the opener and then held off the American again to make it two round robin wins out of two.

Though he is not mathematically assured of a spot in the last four, it would take an incredible set of results on Thursday in the Ilie Nastase Group’s final two round-robin matches to deny him. Sinner will play Daniil Medvedev in his last match while Fritz, who is now 1-1, will play Alex de Minaur.

“It was a very tough match,” he said. “We got to know each other well in a Grand Slam final. He was very aggressive, as I expected. I just tried to serve good in the crucial moments, which I have done. I’m very happy with the win today.

“The crowd helped me a lot. This is a very special occasion for me and I just hope to show some good tennis, and we’ll see what’s coming.”

Sinner rides out the early storm

Fritz knew he had to do something different against Sinner and he set about the match in impressive fashion, raiding the net when he could and going blow to blow against the world’s best player.

Fritz did a pretty good job in trying to tame the crowd, which at times felt more like a football match, perhaps not surprising given that Italy’s legend Andrea Pirlo was in the stands. Every thumping forehand from Sinner cheered to the rafters, every mistake prompting oohs and aahs.

The American pushed Sinner hard in two of his first three service games and to 4-3, Sinner had needed twice as many points on his own serve to hold than Fritz.

But though he saved three break points from 0-40 to level at 4-4, Fritz was then broken two games later by Sinner as the Italian turned on the style, turning outrageous defence turning into brutal attack.

At 15-30, he chased down everything and then, as soon as he had the chance to push Fritz back, he played a perfect drop shot to set up two set points. He only needed one, smashing a forehand down the line to clinch the set.

Sinner turns the screw

Sinner was varying his return position, at times standing as far back behind the baseline as Daniil Medvedev or even Rafael Nadal on a clay court. It gave Fritz something different to think about, a different look when serving, and slowly he began to take control.

Fritz continued to ask questions on the Sinner serve but when he was in good positions, like at 2-2, 15-30, he couldn’t strike the killer blow, Sinner invariably coming up with something special – as he did in that game with a stunning half-volley – to stay ahead.

Fritz dug deep to hold serve in the next game, saving a break point with a big serve and forehand winner and in the next game, had 0-30 on the Italian’s serve, only for Sinner to come up with more brilliance, especially at 30-30 when he defended two shots from Fritz that hit the baseline before ripping a backhand pass up the line for a winner.

At 4-4, Sinner held from 0-30 and then, in the following game, with the pressure again on Fritz, the American buckled from 30-0 up, with Sinner producing more stunning play to finish things off, the American’s backhand drifting just wide.

Ilie Nastase Group:

• Jannik Sinner – 2 wins 0 losses
• Daniil Medvedev – 1 win 1 loss
• Taylor Fritz – 2 wins 1 loss
• Alex de Minaur – 0 wins – 3 losses

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