ATP Finals: Sinner Battles Past Fritz, Rejuvenated Medvedev Back on Track in Turin
World number one Jannik Sinner secured his second victory at the ATP Finals, overcoming Taylor Fritz in a high-octane match at the Inalpi Arena on Tuesday.
In a rematch of the US Open final, Sinner delighted the home crowd with a 6-4, 6-4 win, marking the best match of the tournament so far.
The American, ranked fifth in the world, matched Sinner’s intensity throughout the contest, which was ultimately decided by narrow margins—one break of serve in each set. Sinner made the crucial break in the opening set while Fritz served at 4-5, utilizing a cleverly disguised drop shot and converting on his first set point.
Fritz remained competitive in the second set, gaining a chance to break at 3-3 when Sinner faced a 0-30 deficit on his serve. However, Sinner responded with fearless play, ultimately sealing the match in one hour and 40 minutes.
With this victory, Sinner, aiming to become the first Italian to win the prestigious year-end tournament after reaching the final last year, tops the Ilie Nastase Group with two straight-set wins and appears poised to advance to the semifinals. Fritz is currently tied for one win with Russian Daniil Medvedev, who earlier defeated Australian debutant Alex de Minaur.
“It was a very tough match; we both knew what to expect,” Sinner reflected after his 67th win of the season. “He was aggressive, but I served well in crucial moments and handled pressure situations effectively.”
Fritz will look to secure a semifinal spot by defeating De Minaur in his next match, while Medvedev faces a challenging path against Sinner. After a lackluster performance against Fritz, Medvedev rebounded with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 victory over De Minaur, showcasing his focus and skill.
“I went into this match blocking the noise, even from myself,” Medvedev shared. “I just wanted to hit some shots, and it worked well.”
Meanwhile, world number three Carlos Alcaraz aims to recover from illness as he prepares to face Andrey Rublev on Wednesday, following his opening loss to Casper Ruud.
