Home Favourite Sinner Secures Semi-Final Spot
Jannik Sinner delighted the home crowd in Turin on Wednesday, booking his place in the semi-finals of the ATP Finals with a straight-sets victory over Alexander Zverev. The Italian triumphed 6-4, 6-3 in a match that the German contender felt was far more competitive than the final score indicated.
Zverev's Frustration Over Missed Opportunities
Despite the one-sided appearance of the result, the match's narrative was defined by crucial moments and missed chances. Zverev, a two-time champion at the season-ending tournament, actually created seven break point opportunities across four different games. In stark contrast, Sinner engineered break points in just one game per set, yet the Italian was clinical, converting both chances to secure the win.
This defeat marks the fourth time this year that Zverev has fallen to Sinner. Their most recent encounter was a devastating 6-0, 6-1 loss for Zverev at the Paris Masters just 11 days prior. A more competitive match was expected in Turin, and Zverev confirmed this was the case. "I felt very good from the baseline, actually better than in Vienna almost, when we were in the rally," Zverev said in his post-match comments.
The Serve That Made The Difference
The pivotal factor, according to Zverev, was Sinner's formidable serving, particularly under pressure. The Italian fired 12 aces, with many arriving at the most critical junctures. In the very first game, Sinner slammed four aces, two of which saved break points. He later dug himself out of a 0-40 deficit early in the second set, sealing the game with another unreturnable ace.
"Sometimes when he's serving like this, it's even more difficult because, seven break points, seven first serves, not one second serve I had," Zverev explained, highlighting the immense challenge he faced. "I was not even in the rally at all. He improved his serve a lot."
When questioned if Sinner's performance was simply unplayable, Zverev was defiant. "It's not unplayable. I had many opportunities. He had one, he used the chance," he stated, expressing his belief that a deeper look into the match dynamics would reveal a contest that "could have been better than 6-4 6-3."
With this victory, Sinner advances from the Bjorn Borg Group. Zverev, who won his opening match against Ben Shelton, can still reach the semi-finals with a win over Felix Auger-Aliassime on Friday, potentially setting up a rematch with the defending champion. "Listen, I hope to see him again, it's as simple as that, this week," Zverev concluded.
