'At times, I couldn’t have played better': With ATP Finals win, Jannik Sinner finished a No. 1 season worthy of the Big 3

The seemingly invincible Italian won his 11^th and 12^th consecutive sets on Tuesday in Turin to defeat Taylor Fritz at the ATP Finals, 6-4, 6-4. With Daniil Medvedev’s two-set win over Alex de Minaur earlier in the day, Sinner has not secured a spot in the semifinals despite a 2-0 round-robin record, but he’s in prime position to do so. He’ll face Medvedev, who lost to Fritz in his opener, this Thursday.

The Russian will look to Carlos Alcaraz for inspiration; he was the last player to win a set from Sinner that didn’t come in a tiebreaker, more than eight matches ago.

It appeared that the first set was headed to tennis’ overtime session after Fritz fought off three break points to hold for 4-4. But a relentless Sinner made the American pay for anything but perfection two games later, and broke for the set win.

Sinner has not secured a spot in the semifinals despite a 2-0 round-robin record, but he’s in prime position to do so.

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Fritz had another look at a break opportunity at 2-2, 30-all in the second set. Two errors—brought upon by Sinner’s heavy hitting, not from a lack of form from Fritz—followed.

After saving a Sinner break point at 2-3, Fritz made another push, reaching 0-30 at 3-3. Three straight Sinner points, including a lunging backhand pass after with Fritz in optimal position, followed. Fritz could only look upward in disgust after the game ended with an unforced error.

But let’s be clear: Sinner forced Fritz to hit harder and deeper—even if it didn’t seem to matter against this dominant No. 1.

Much like the first set, a tiebreaker appeared possible given Fritz’s fight. And like the first set, Sinner’s might saw him break for 6-4.

We will have more coverage on this match from Steve Tignor.