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Reuters

Agence France-Presse

World No 1 Jannik Sinner says the ATP Finals will be more special for him this time around as it gives him the chance to play on home soil in Italy, months after missing this year’s Italian Open in Rome because of a hip injury.
The ATP Finals, which feature the world’s best eight singles players and doubles teams, are being staged at the Inalpi Arena in Turin from November 10 to 17.
“Many things make [this tournament] special,” Sinner said on Thursday.
“First of all, being an Italian and playing in Italy. I haven’t played in Italy this year, because I missed Rome. That was a really tough one, but I am even more excited and happy to be here.
“The atmosphere is just amazing … I’m just happy to be back here and hopefully I can show some good tennis.”

Sinner arrives in Turin at the end of a sensational season in which he was victorious at the Australian and US Opens – his first grand slam triumphs – and won five more ATP titles.
The 23-year-old is seeking a first-ever title at the season-ending tournament and has come a long way since losing last year’s final to Novak Djokovic, pushing on to become the world’s top-ranked player and a national hero.
Sinner is the first ever Italian to top the men’s world rankings and ended his country’s 48-year men’s slam title drought, and he finished the “Race To Turin” with more than 10,330 points.
That total is more than 3,000 points more than his closest rival, Alexander Zverev, highlighting just how dominant Sinner has been in 2024.
However, Sinner has been dogged by controversy after twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March but being allowed to continue playing.
He was initially cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency in August but at the end of September the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed, seeking a ban of up to two years.
“We don’t know anything yet [about the appeal],” Sinner, who has denied any wrongdoing, told reporters on Thursday.

“It’s not a pleasurable situation to be in but we remain optimists.”
Fans in Turin will be hoping for another helping of Sinner’s burgeoning rivalry with flamboyant Carlos Alcaraz, also a two-time slam winner this year after he successfully defended his Wimbledon title and won at Roland Garros for the first time.
“It’s difficult to talk about a rivalry when you’re so young. We’re two players who like to do battle,” Sinner said.
“Being considered favourite is definitely different compared to last year but I’m going to have the same approach to the tournament.”
With Djokovic pulling out of the Finals injured, there will be no representative of tennis’ “big four” of the Serbian, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray for the first time since 2001.
Djokovic, 37, withdrew because of an “ongoing injury” that meant he would end a season without an ATP title for the first time in 18 years – although he did win gold at the Paris Olympics – and his absence feels like the latest step in a dragged out changing of the guard.

That ensured places for Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev and Finals debutant Alex de Minaur, who will be Sinner’s first opponent on Sunday night in the Ilie Nastase Group.
Also in the group are former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev and American Taylor Fritz.
Sinner and Alcaraz look like being tennis’ new dominant forces but it is Alcaraz who has had the better of their most recent meetings, winning all three matches between the pair in 2024 including in the French Open semi-finals.
Supporters hoping for a blockbuster clash between tennis’ two biggest stars will have to hope they meet in the knockout stages as they were drawn in separate groups on Thursday.
Alcaraz begins his bid for a first Finals crown against Ruud on Monday in the John Newcombe Group. Two-time winner Zverev and Russia’s Rublev complete the group.


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ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)

ATP Finals: home hero Jannik Sinner keen to show his best at ‘special’ season-ending event

Italian world No 1 Jannik Sinner arrives for the blue carpet event of the ATP Finals in Turin on Thursday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Sinner (left) is grouped with (from left) Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur. Photo: EPA-EFE

This year’s Finals will not feature Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer nor Rafael Nadal. Photo: EPA-EFE

The other group has (from left) Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud and Andrej Rublev. Photo: EPA-EFE

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Novak Djokovic won the ATP Finals title last year by beating Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the final. Photo: Reuters

Djokovic’s withdrawal means a place for Alex De Minaur (left), who lost to Holger Rune last week. Photo: Xinhua

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Former Chinese tennis player Li Na attends a press conference of her to be tournament director of Prudential Hong Kong Open at The Park Lane in Causeway Bay.  05SEP24 SCMP / Sun Yeung

China’s Zheng Qinwen is the first Chinese player to make the final stages of the WTA Finals in 11 years. Photo: Reuters 

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Coleman Wong will now face Australia’s Alex Bolt in the second round at the ATP Challenger event in Matsuyama, Japan. Photo: Edmond So

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Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz is one of six players who will vie for the US$6 million winner’s cheque at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh this week. Photo: AFP

Jannik Sinner (right) and Daniil Medvedev are among the others set for the Saudi event. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Tennis

The world No 1 is favourite for the Turin event after a brilliant but controversial year but strongest rival Carlos Alcaraz will have a say


The world No 1 is favourite for the Turin event after a brilliant but controversial year but strongest rival Carlos Alcaraz will have a say.


ATP Finals

Novak Djokovic

Roger Federer

Rafael Nadal

ATP Finals: home hero Jannik Sinner keen to show his best at ‘special’ season-ending event

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The world No 1 is favourite for the Turin event after a brilliant but controversial year but strongest rival Carlos Alcaraz will have a say

The world No 1 is favourite for the Turin event after a brilliant but controversial year but strongest rival Carlos Alcaraz will have a say