Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy continued his dominant run, winning his 30th consecutive match indoors as he powered to the championship match of the Tour Finals for the third consecutive year in Turin, defeating Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-2. Sinner, who did not drop a set or his serve throughout the round-robin stage of the event, was in his element in front of his vocal home support in Turin. The Italian remained patient in the first set, converting on his eighth break point to gain the advantage. The 24-year-old then overwhelmed the resilient de Minaur with his intensity and clean ball striking in the second set to become the youngest player since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004 to reach three finals at the prestigious year-end event.
“First of all, I am very happy,” Sinner said. “It is the last event of the year, and it is great to finish in this way. It was a very tough match, especially at the beginning of the first set. I felt like he was serving great, very precise. In the second set, I broke very early, and then my level rose,” he was quoted as saying by the ATP Tour. “I tried to be a bit more aggressive, and it worked well, but it was a tough match. But making the final for three consecutive years means a lot to me. It is a great atmosphere for me to play tennis and a great place for me to close this beautiful season. Tomorrow I will enjoy and try my best to get the best possible result,” he added.
Sinner has won his past 30 indoor matches, with his last defeat coming against Novak Djokovic in the championship match in northern Italy two years ago. He has since captured indoor titles in Rotterdam, Turin, Vienna, and Paris, while he helped guide Italy to Davis Cup glory on two occasions. The second seed will aim to add to his growing trophy cabinet when he meets Carlos Alcaraz or Felix Auger-Aliassime in the title match on Sunday. Alcaraz, who is chasing his first trophy at the year-end event, secured ATP Year-End No. 1 honours by going 3-0 in the round-robin stage this week, ending Sinner’s quest.
