Jannik Sinner sees off Taylor Fritz: ATP Finals tennis – as it happened

ATP Finals roundup: Alcaraz’s participation in doubt

Right, it’s arrivederci from me, but do join us tomorrow for day four. We’re planning to cover Carlos Alcaraz v Andrey Rublev from about 2pm local time/1pm GMT, so let’s hope Alcaraz is well enough to play. The talk in Turin now is that he hopefully will be. Tomorrow’s other group match is between Alex Zverev and Casper Ruud. We’ll also have a report on Sinner’s victory online shortly. Thanks for your company. Bye!

While Sinner is in control of the Ilie Nastase group, all four players are still in contention. Sinner will play Medvedev on Thursday, while Fritz will face De Minaur.

1 Sinner W2 L0
2 Fritz W1 L1
3 Medvedev W1 L1
4 De Minaur W0 L2

I think Sinner’s being a bit modest there. He landed so many returns against one of the strongest servers in the game and won 62% of the points on Fritz’s second serve – ultimately that’s what won him the match, when he capitalised on Fritz’s first serve breaking down in the final game.

Sinner – so understated when he speaks, in contrast to his fierce hitting – says on court:

It was very tough match. We got to know each other very well at the US Open. I just tried to serve good in the important moments, I struggled to return his serve, but I’m happy I could show some good tennis today.

That’s 23 wins now from Sinner’s past 24 matches, and while the computer hasn’t confirmed his place in the semi-finals, he’s almost certain to be in them on Saturday.

Sinner beats Fritz 6-4, 6-4

Second set: Sinner 6-4, 5-4 Fritz* (denotes next server)

Sinner slips 0-15 down on serve for the sixth time in this match. But he still hasn’t been broken, and this game sticks to a familiar script as Sinner speeds back to 40-15 and then claims the game. Fritz – as in the first set – will serve at 4-5. He was broken then. Can he hold firmer this time?

Second set: *Sinner 6-4, 4-4 Fritz (denotes next server)

“Against most of the players in this tournament he’d have won this match,” says Laura Robson of Fritz, who has arguably played better than he did in the US Open final against Sinner. Fritz is on the ropes at 30-all on his serve – if he’s broken here Sinner will be serving for the match – but he hauls himself off them with some gutsy hitting to take the next two points for the hold.

Second set: Sinner 6-4, 4-3 Fritz* (denotes next server)

0-30 for Fritz on Sinner’s serve – will the American finally be rewarded for his efforts this evening? No – because Sinner scampers back to 30-all and then sends a quite ridiculous backhand winner down the line which leaves him cupping his ear to the adoring crowd! He’s definitely more of a saint than Sinner in these parts. Fritz fumbles long and Sinner gets another hold on the board.

Second set: *Sinner 6-4, 3-3 Fritz (denotes next server)

Fritz crouches down in an attempt to retrieve Sinner’s return but he balloons wide. 0-15. He comes back for 15-all, but he doesn’t even move to Sinner’s drop shot on the third point. That couldn’t have been struck better. Fritz sends down what feels like his 6383^rd ace of the season (he’s actually closing in on 700) for 30-all. His most trusted weapon can’t help him on the next point, though, and Sinner secures a break point, which is close to a match point, but Fritz’s serve finds its range again to dismiss the danger. Deuce. Advantage Fritz. Deuce. Advantage Fritz. Deuce. Advantage Fritz. Game Fritz; huge respect to the American for holding on. This may end in straight sets – as the other singles matches have so far this week – but it’s been the most engaging contest of the lot.

Second set: Sinner 6-4, 3-2 Fritz* (denotes next server)

Jonathan Overend makes the good point on commentary that Sinner’s attacking skills are so eye-catching that it’s easy to overlook how strong he is defensively. But for me, he’s probably second only to Djokovic in the defensive stakes, with the way he slides into the balls on this indoor hard court as if he’s playing on clay. Those skills aren’t enough to make any inroads into Fritz’s service game, though, but he is spinning and sliding at 30-all on his own serve as he plays an incredible half-volley to make it 40-30. And Sinner holds once more.

Second set: Sinner 6-4, 2-1 Fritz* (denotes next server)

Sinner whips the crowd into an Italian frenzy with a pinpoint backhand pass for 15-0. Some heavy hitting from Fritz and it’s 15-all. But an eighth forehand winner from Sinner brings up game point at 40-15. A flustered Fritz makes the error. And Sinner strides to his chair looking like a man who’s focused on getting the job done in two sets.

Second set: *Sinner 6-4, 1-1 Fritz (denotes next server)

That’s the first set Fritz has dropped this tournament, and it’s a big, big ask to get past Sinner now; the Italian is so strong when he gets ahead. And Fritz is battling against the crowd too. The tables have very much turned from the US Open final; Sinner triumphed against the crowd there, but now Fritz must try to block out the partisan support for his opponent. Sinner opens the second set with a hold to 15; Fritz responds with a slightly less secure hold to 30.

Sinner wins the first set 6-4

First set: Sinner 5-4 Fritz* (denotes next server)

Now it’s Sinner’s turn to recover from the setback of not breaking. He does so with ease, moving to 40-15 and finishing the game off by sending Fritz one way and then the other before dispatching a simple winning volley. This has been an absorbing first set, and Fritz must now hold serve to stay in it.

First set: *Sinner 4-4 Fritz (denotes next server)

I wonder whether Fritz will be able to keep his focus in this game after the disappointment of missing out on the break. And, indeed, the momentum does quickly shift, with Fritz falling 0-30 down. And then 0-40, three break points, Sinner’s first of the match. Fritz fends off the first – he saves the second when Sinner spoons long. And Sinner’s backhand flops into the net on the third! Sinner’s dad looks a little stressed in the crowd, and Sinner must be anxious too, because there’s a misjudgment from him at deuce when he thinks the ball is going long. And Fritz secures five points in a row to somehow hold!

First set: Sinner 4-3 Fritz* (denotes next server)

A Hawk-Eye glitch after the opening exchange, but eventually the confirmation comes that the point is Fritz’s. Sinner rattles off three quick points – before Fritz prevails in two longer exchanges – credit to the American for the way he’s staying with Sinner in many of these baseline rallies. Deuce. Advantage Sinner. Deuce, as the game clock ticks beyond five minutes …

Sinner snatches at a backhand and here’s the first break point of the match! No less than Fritz deserves for his efforts. But Sinner survives, and then flummoxes Fritz with a drop shot-lob combination … Fritz tries the tweener, but it was always going long. Advantage Sinner, and after another advantage he finally holds.

First set: *Sinner 3-3 Fritz (denotes next server)

15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game, as Fritz finds the sideline with a backhand winner. Fritz is making the task of facing the world numero uno on Italian soil almost look enjoyable.

First set: Sinner 3-2 Fritz* (denotes next server)

Fritz has another sniff on Sinner’s serve at 15-30, and he then extends the game to deuce. The umpire berates some of the spectators for using the flash on their phones. Now Fritz is berating himself after Sinner secures advantage. Fritz is most definitely up for making a match of this; he’s been so vocal and aggressive. Apart from a few poor unforced errors, he’s been on his game so far. But Sinner holds after his second advantage.

First set: *Sinner 2-2 Fritz (denotes next server)

Fritz has Sinner scampering left and right, and even one of the finest athletes in the game can’t get Fritz’s forehand back. 30-0. Which is very quickly 40-15. Fritz thinks he’s pulled off a one-two punch on game point, but Sinner scrambles the ball back … and shows even more ridiculous retrieval skills to extend the point before eventually just missing! The game is Fritz’s but the Italians are still cheering loudly for their man after that rally – some of whom are wearing neon orange shirts in tribute to the ginger-haired Sinner which are being illuminated by the UV light in the stadium.

First set: Sinner 2-1 Fritz* (denotes next server)

At 15-all, Sinner goes back behind a wrong-footed Fritz with a winner. A good tactic against the 6ft 5in American. Fritz finds his feet, though, to recover for 30-all; a clutch point this – it was at this stage that Sinner was broken against Alex de Minaur in his opening match. But Fritz goes for too much and screams in frustration. Game point Sinner, and Fritz flumps a forehand into the net after a baseline rally.

First set: *Sinner 1-1 Fritz (denotes next server)

Fritz, also wearing a dark shirt but helpfully a bandana to differentiate him from his opponent, doesn’t appear in the mood to hang about on serve either. 15-0, 30-0. But Sinner pulls him back to 30-all, moving his opponent around with ease on the fourth point as a flailing Fritz dumps a backhand into the net. Fritz edges to game point, but then makes another backhand error. Deuce … from which Fritz surprises Sinner with an unexpected drop shot (already Fritz is having to play out of his comfort zone, notes Laura Robson on the Sky commentary). And from there the American holds.

First set: Sinner 1-0 Fritz* (denotes next server)

So Sinner, wearing a blue polo shirt and white baseball cap, steps up to serve first. He wins a short, sharp first point. The second is longer, as the pair trade cross-court backhands, and it’s Fritz who blinks first. 30-0. And an ace and unreturned serve make it game. The crowd are already cheering their local hero as if he’s won.

The umpire calls one minute, so there’s just enough time to talk tactics. Fritz’s standout weapon is that serve – followed by his forehand – and he’ll need both to be fully firing against Sinner, who’s also a big hitter, but can mix his easy power with searing slices and drop shots. Sinner’s the better athlete, too, and will be looking to take charge of points by dragging Fritz around the court.

Fritz will feel he has a chance of pulling off the upset after the standout season of his career, but Sinner, of course, has even more confidence after enjoying the best year of his; the Italian’s ability to win two slams and find such consistency amid his ongoing doping case has been remarkable. It’s hard to see beyond Sinner tonight.

Now come the coin toss and warm-up. Sinner is giving away a few inches in height to Fritz, so the world No 1 does a big jump at the net to show who’s really boss. The toss goes Sinner’s way, and he elects to serve first. Ever the gentleman, he picks up the coin from the court to save the umpire the bother.

In the meantime there’s a light show going on. There are some dancers too. And the music is blasting out just to pump everyone up a bit more. And now the players step on to court, with the home hero Sinner getting by far the louder welcome. No surprises there.

… or three.

Sinner has been doing his final warm-ups and the players will be out in a minute or two:

Taking out my calculator and scratching my head (a lot), Fritz will reach the semi-finals with a match to spare if he beats Sinner, while Sinner can’t qualify tonight. I think. The complexities of round-robin tennis.

Sinner was the runner-up in Turin last year, losing to Djokovic in straight sets, while Fritz is making his second appearance at the ATP Finals after a late call-up in 2022, when he reached the semi-finals.

“My first time [in Turin], I was an alternate, no one really expected much of me,” Fritz said. “I was playing with house money, no pressure. Now, I’m putting more expectation on myself to do better, I’m just a better player.”

Back to this evening’s matters. This will be the fourth meeting between Sinner and Fritz. Sinner has the edge in their head-to-head, leading 2-1, with Fritz’s win coming back in 2021, before the real Jannik Sinner stood up.

“I have to be at my top if I want to win or get close,” Sinner told the ATP website of facing Fritz. “It’s going to be tough, this I know. I know that I will have to raise my level, so hopefully I can do that. I feel like he has improved a lot in the past one and a half, two years. He is serving much better, hitting the ball very, very hard. He’s a great competitor.”

In other tennis news:

As for Daniil Medvedev, having been booed for his racket-smashing antics against Fritz on Sunday, the Russian stuck his fingers in his ears after a much-improved display against Alex de Minaur earlier. “I went into this match blocking the noise, even from myself,” the 2020 champion said after his brilliant 6-2, 6-4 victory over the Australian. “I really didn’t care what was happening on court, I just tried to play, and it was a good feeling.”

The result means Medvedev is back in semi-final contention, while De Minaur will be knocked out with a match to spare on his ATP Finals debut if Sinner v Fritz goes to three sets.

We’ve already had a repeat of this year’s Wimbledon men’s doubles final today – and the result was the same too, with Britain’s Henry Patten and his Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara defeating Australia’s Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson 7-6 (3), 7-5.

Patten and Heliovaara are through to the semi-finals with a match to spare, because Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic have just beaten Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, saving a match point in the second set before winning a match tie-break 10-8, with the late drama warming the crowd up nicely for Sinner v Fritz. They’re already screaming loudly – just wait until Sinner steps on to court…

While we’re waiting: here are the highlights from their US Open final.

Preamble