Jannik Sinner is set to enter the ATP Finals title match on Sunday with a significant psychological advantage over his opponent Taylor Fritz, fueled by the American’s admiration of Sinner’s skillset. Sinner, the 22-year-old Italian, demonstrated his exceptional form by breezing past Casper Ruud with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory in their semi-final clash. The impressive display left no doubt about Sinner’s determination and skill as he bids for his first ATP Finals trophy in front of a supportive home crowd in Turin.
Having already defeated Fritz in the group stage earlier in the tournament, Sinner holds a 4-0 head-to-head record over the American. This perfect record, combined with his formidable form, gives Sinner a distinct edge. However, Fritz’s own words, spoken to the Tennis Channel, highlight just how much he respects and admires the talent of both Sinner and his contemporary rival, Carlos Alcaraz. “One thing both of those guys do is… their defense is incredible,” Fritz said, praising the defensive prowess of both players. “They don’t really play that much defense. When they are full on the run out in the corners, they just crush the ball.”
Fritz, who is renowned for his powerful groundstrokes, elaborated on the challenges of facing players like Sinner and Alcaraz. “I can be in a backhand crosscourt rally with either one of them and if I hit a forehand, it’s got to be so good or else that next ball is getting just drilled huge crosscourt,” he explained. “They just play these lateral baseline points… like we used to see Nadal and Fed and most you saw Nadal and Novak have these long points, corner to corner. When Sinner and Alcaraz do it corner to corner, they have these same rallies but I swear they are hitting the ball ten miles an hour faster. It’s just crazy.”
Sinner’s clinical performances this week have only elevated his status. In the semi-final against Ruud, he showcased his all-around game, consistently dictating points from the baseline and demonstrating an unshakable focus. Reflecting on his journey to the final, Sinner acknowledged the significance of competing for the title in Italy. “It would mean a lot to win in Italy, but a lot can happen in these kinds of matches,” Sinner noted. “Let’s see what’s coming. I’m just happy to be in a position where I can fight for a really important title for my career and let’s see what is coming.”
Sinner dissected his semi-final victory with a composed analysis, emphasizing the importance of his early break and his intense focus throughout the match. “I felt like I was returning really well in the first game, and when I went up a break I tried to be really concentrated with the service games,” he said. “I was a couple of break points down in the first set and then fortunately I managed to get through. I raised my level and tried to be quite intense with it.”
Looking ahead to the final against Fritz, Sinner maintained a humble yet confident outlook. “Very similar circumstances because we [Taylor Fritz] already played in the round-robin format and will play again in the final. I just try to play the best I can tomorrow. Anything can happen. It’s been a very positive week and year so I’m really happy.”
Sinner’s evolution as a player has been evident throughout this season, and former British No. 1 Laura Robson was among those to highlight his growth and precision. Robson, speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, commended Sinner’s dominance over Ruud, emphasizing that the Norwegian was simply outclassed. “I don’t know if Casper could’ve done that much differently,” Robson observed. “It was really that Sinner was a much better player than he was on the day.”
Ruud, who has consistently been a strong contender on the ATP Tour, found himself overwhelmed by Sinner’s relentless play. Robson suggested that Ruud might leave the match with mixed feelings but also an understanding of how well he performed overall this week. “He can walk off and be happy knowing that the week has gone better than he perhaps at first thought and that he made the semi-finals. It’s one of those matches where you get to the locker room and feel a bit shocked. He will feel like he could’ve done a better job but it’s hard to say where that could be.”
While Fritz prepares for another shot at Sinner, he will have to find answers to the relentless pressure and pace of his Italian rival’s game. The admiration he has for Sinner underscores the challenge ahead but also reflects the high regard in which the Italian’s game is held by his peers. As Sinner prepares to step onto the court for the final match of the ATP Finals, he carries with him not just the expectations of his fans but also the weight of his extraordinary talent—a combination that has already made him one of the most formidable players of his generation. For Fritz, this is another opportunity to rise to the challenge and possibly turn admiration into an upset victory, but for Sinner, the goal is clear: to capture glory on home soil and solidify his place among the elite.