Jannik Sinner began his campaign for a first ATP Finals title with a commanding 6-3, 6-4 win over Alex de Minaur on Sunday. The Italian delivered an impressive performance in front of his home fans in Turin, securing the top spot in the Ilie Nastase Group.
Despite a brief scare early in the first set when he was broken, Sinner quickly regained control, winning four straight games to seal the opening set. He then finished the match with a flawless service game, wrapping it up with an ace to earn the victory.
Sinner, ranked world No. 1, had not played since winning the Shanghai Masters in October, and his win over De Minaur was his first ATP Finals match this year. The 22-year-old has had an extraordinary season, claiming his first Grand Slam titles at the Australian and US Opens, in addition to five other ATP titles.
However, his year has been marred by controversy due to two positive tests for the steroid clostebol in March, although he was cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency. In September, the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the ruling, seeking a potential ban.
Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev, a former ATP Finals champion, suffered a frustrating 6-4, 6-3 defeat to American Taylor Fritz. Medvedev's anger was evident throughout the match, as he smashed his racket after losing the first set.
His frustration boiled over when Fritz broke his serve early in the second set, leading to a penalty point for Medvedev after he threw his racket at a courtside microphone. The Russian's behavior was met with boos from the crowd, and after the match, he admitted to being mentally exhausted, stating that he was ready for the end of the season.
Looking ahead, Carlos Alcaraz will begin his quest for a first ATP Finals title on Monday, facing Casper Ruud in the John Newcombe Group. Alexander Zverev will also play Andrey Rublev in the same group. The tournament's structure sees the top two players from each group advance to the semifinals, with the race for the prestigious title heating up.
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