Clinical Sinner puts on serving masterclass in Turin to beat Tsitsipas in opening group match
The Italian downed Tsitsipas in straight sets to move go top of the Green Group in the opening match of 2023’s Nitto ATP Finals
(ICON SMI/Panoramic)
Jannik Sinner has opened his 2023 ATP Finals campaign with a stunning statement win, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 in a one-sided display of clinical serving and metronomic shot-making.
The win improves the Italian’s head-to-head record against the Greek to three wins and five losses. It also means that Sinner moves to the top of the Green Group standings, with Novak Djokovic and Holger Rune taking to the court this evening in the group’s second fixture.
“It was a very long, long week before here, coming here,” the 22-year-old Italian said during his post-match on-court interview.
“I’m very excited to finally step on court, opening this. The finals here are very, very special. Playing against Stefanos, I knew already before that it was going to be very, very tough.
“But I think I handled the situation really well. I tried to stay pretty aggressive, which I’ve done, and obviously very happy with my performance. Happy to start off with a win, and hopefully I can keep this kind of level and intensity.”
Clinical Sinner dominant throughout the contest
The scoreline does not fully reflect the level of dominance that Sinner commanded. The Italian completely controlled proceedings, dictating play throughout and suffocating Tsitsipas’ opportunities on the forehand.
Sinner’s tactic was to target the Greek’s backhand by frequently ripping his ferocious forehand down the line.
It worked exceptionally well. Sinner put Tsitsipas’ weaker wing under intense scrutiny, forcing a litany of errors to start leaking from his opponent.
A single break in each set was all the world No 4 required to wrap up an outstanding opening win in an hour and 25 minutes.
The match started competitively enough, with each player holding serve confidently until the fifth game of the first set, when Sinner’s relentlessly precise and powerful hitting started to puncture the defence’s of Tsitsipas and he was rewarded with a first break of serve.
Once a break behind, Tsitsipas struggled to make any inroads with the Italian’s serve, which was imperious throughout the contest.
An instant break for Sinner in the opening game of the second set therefore spelt trouble for Tsitsipas, and it proved to be decisive.
“It is a very different week, special week”
Sinner on playing one of the biggest tournaments on home soil
It looked as though there could be signs of a fightback from Tsitsipas as he saved three consecutive break points from 0-40 down on his serve in the third game.
The trouble was that the young Italian’s serve was simply impenetrable, with Sinner painting lines with precision and pace to keep the Greek at bay.
The rest of the match went on serve as Sinner fittingly signed off the match with an ace out wide to seal a hugely impressive win.
Sinner feels the love of the home crowd in “special week”
“For sure, it is very different week, special week,” Sinner said.
“You know we play inside with the roof closed, so there’s even more noise here. Obviously huge thanks for the crowd, it’s such an incredible feeling.”
Sinner entered the ATP Finals of the back of a six-match winning streak that included his fourth title of the season at the Vienna Open.
In front of vocal and supporting home crowd in Turin, he looks every bit as in form as he has for the past two months – a period in which he also claimed the title in Beijing.
The Italian is off to a perfect start in the season-ending showpiece event, and he will take some stopping in his homeland this week.
