Sinner Caps Season With ATP Finals Title
2024 belongs to Jannik Sinner.
The top-ranked Italian won his eighth title of the year by capturing the trophy at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Italy on Sunday with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over American Taylor Fritz.
“It’s amazing, it’s my first title in Italy and it means so much to me,” said Sinner. “It’s something very special. I just tried to understand what works best for each opponent, trying to play my best possible tennis. That was the key. It was a very high-level tournament from my side. At times, I couldn’t have played better, so I am very happy.”
Sinner’s dominant performance in his home country put a bow on his outstanding season, becoming the first Italian to win the tournament in its 55-year history, and the first player from any nation without dropping a set since Ivan Lendl in 1986.
In a rematch of the U.S. Open final, Sinner was clinical against Fritz. He blasted 10 aces in the first set and scored a late break of serve, and in the second set, broke the American in the fifth game for the decisive moment of the set. The win was Sinner’s 50th hard-court win of the season.
For Fritz, his run to the ATP Finals helped cap off the best season of his career and came on the heels of his run to the Open final, the first major final of his career. He climbs to No. 4 in the world rankings.
“It’s been a really good week for me, it’s a good way to end the year,” said Fritz. “Gives me a lot of confidence finishing the season. Going into my off-season, starting next year, I feel like I have a good idea of what things I need to improve on, but I also feel like I’m playing very good tennis. Back when I was 5 [in the world], I didn’t feel like I was 5. Now I’m ranked where I’m at, I feel like I belong. It’s a different feeling. It’s been a great year. That gives me a lot of confidence to have that belief. That’s a huge part of having the big results.”
