Jannik Sinner continued his impressive pursuit of a Nitto ATP Finals title on Tuesday, securing a commanding 6-4, 6-4 victory over Taylor Fritz in his second round-robin match at the season-ending tournament in Turin.
The top seed, backed by a roaring crowd of 12,000 at the Inalpi Arena, improved to 2-0 in the Ilie Nastase Group after a powerful performance that saw him assert control despite a strong start from Fritz. With this win, Sinner further cemented his status as one of the tournament favorites, having already defeated Fritz in the US Open final earlier this year.
“It was a very tough match, and we know each other well after meeting in a Grand Slam final,” Sinner reflected. “I knew exactly what to expect from him—he came out aggressive, but I prepared for it. I focused on serving well during key moments, especially in the second set when I was down 0/30. That was a pivotal game, and if he had broken me, the momentum could have shifted.”
Although Fritz began with an aggressive approach, Sinner’s composure in crucial moments ultimately made the difference. The match lasted one hour and 40 minutes, and despite Fritz’s fight, which included a gutsy hold at 0/40 in the eighth game, Sinner sealed the first set with a break in the 10th game, converting his fourth break point.
In the second set, Sinner continued to demonstrate his superior ball-striking, including a remarkable backhand winner in the seventh game that helped him hold serve from 0/30. His precision and resilience were on full display, with Fritz committing 16 unforced errors to Sinner’s 11.
This victory marks Sinner’s 67th win of the year, leveling him with Alexander Zverev for the most Tour victories in 2024. With a flawless record on indoor hard courts this season (7-0), the Italian is in strong contention to progress to the semi-finals and chase his eighth title of the year.
Sinner now looks ahead to a showdown with fourth seed Daniil Medvedev on Thursday, aiming to extend his perfect record in the Ilie Nastase Group. Meanwhile, Fritz, who is 1-1 in the group, will face Alex de Minaur in a must-win match to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
Having returned to action in Turin after a month-long break, Sinner’s pursuit of his first ATP Finals title continues, with the 23-year-old showing the form that propelled him to No. 1 in the ATP Rankings.
