Jannik Sinner has done it. The World No.1 has produced a near flawless tournament to win the year end ATP Finals for the first time in Turin. He saw off Taylor Fritz who he also conquered at the US Open 6-4, 6-4 and becomes the first Italian champion in the tournament's 55 year history.
His serve in particular was dynamite. He won 83 per cent of points behind his first delivery. He becomes the first player to win the ATP Finals without dropping a set since Ivan Lendl in 1986 highlighting what has been a truly remarkable season.
The American put on a good performance but it wasn’t enough against the 2-time Grand Slam champion, who defeated him for the second time this week. In the first part of the set, Fritz kept the match balanced up to 3-3, with both players holding serve without major difficulties. The 7th game was the longest of the set, lasting 7 minutes during which Sinner had three break point opportunities. On his third chance, the Italian played a dropshot that Fritz couldn’t reach, giving him the 4-3 advantage.
After that, Sinner held his serve, and when it was time to close out the set at 5-4, he faced Fritz’s first break point. However, a strong first serve got him out of trouble, and on his second set point, he took the set 6-4. Fritz had a solid 76% first serve percentage, winning 69% of those points, but it wasn’t enough against the world No. 1’s dominance.
In the second set, things looked uphill for Fritz when Sinner broke in the 5th game to take the lead. There wasn’t much of a response from Fritz, who won his next eight service points but couldn’t trouble the Italian. Sinner claimed the victory 6-4, 6-4, and lifted his first ATP Finals title in front of his home crowd in Turin.
After claiming a tour-leading 70th win of the season, he joins Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only players to win the Australian Open, US Open and ATP Finals in a single season. He is also the first born in the 2000's to capture the trophy having lost to Djokovic last year in the final.
He eased to victory in 85 minutes as he limited any ability from Fritz to dictate the tie and was relentless from both wings from the baseline as he eased through to the victory. He now sits at 4-1 in their respective head to head.
The World No.1, tour leader, double Grand Slam champion and now ATP Finals champion. A near flawless season concludes albeit with Davis Cup being the real final stand next week to cap off 2024.
Winning moment.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) November 17, 2024
What a week.
Didn’t lose more than 4 games per set. Total domination pic.twitter.com/sXKEVWYpmn
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