Jannik Sinner completes perfect ATP Finals group stage by seeing off Ben Shelton

TURIN – With a comfortable 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) win over Ben Shelton, Jannik Sinner completed a perfect group stage in his ATP Finals title defence on Nov 14.

The Italian took 1hr 35min to see off the spirited American, who bowed out of his debut Finals in Turin without a win from his three matches in the Bjorn Borg Group.

“When you come here and win all three round-robin matches, you have to play at a very high level, which I’ve done,” said world No. 2 Sinner.

“Serving very well in important moments has brought me to this point. It was a very special day playing in front of the home crowd and against Ben, it’s always a tough challenge.

“When he comes up with a huge serve, you cannot do a lot, so you have to accept it. My mental aspect (has been) great until now, so let’s see what’s coming.”

Sinner will face Alex de Minaur in the first semi-final on Nov 15, when he will be red-hot favourite to reach his third final in the season-ending tournament in as many years.

He said he was very happy for the 26-year-old Australian, who lost to Carlos Alcaraz and Lorenzo Musetti in the Jimmy Connors Group before defeating Taylor Fritz in straight sets on Nov 13 to reach the last four.

“When you have these kinds of losses, it’s tough,” said Sinner.

“So props to him to come back with an incredible performance against Taylor. I have to be very careful, because he doesn’t have a lot to lose… I have a lot to lose.”

The 24-year-old Italian has not dropped a set at the Finals since losing the 2023 title-decider to Novak Djokovic and he has not even had to play his best tennis to rattle off wins against three of the best players on the planet.

Sinner started the Nov 14 match by immediately breaking world No. 5 Shelton’s serve and from there kept up the pressure without ever giving the 23-year-old any chance of victory.

The four-time Grand Slam winner is on course for yet another final showdown against Alcaraz, who was handed the award for securing the year-end top spot in the men’s rankings before Sinner’s match.

The 22-year-old Spaniard sealed the No. 1 ranking with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Musetti the previous day, a result that also sent de Minaur into the semi-finals.

“It is a pleasure for me (being) the No. 1,” Alcaraz said.

“Being the No. 1 of the world is something that I’m working really hard for with my team every day. It is a goal. But I think it is a journey that you’re not going through alone.

“It’s with your whole team, with your family, with your close people behind you, always supporting you in the tough and good moments, which I’m really, really proud about – having such a great team.”

The six-time Grand Slam champion pointed out that when he earned year-end No. 1 honours for the first time in 2022, he had the same team.

“I’m still really proud about the team I have right now,” Alcaraz said. “Some new members in the team that I’m really happy and proud to share this moment with them as well. For me, it’s a great achievement. It means the world to me and I’m just really proud and happy.” 

He has had the best season of his career, reaching the final of three Grand Slams, winning the French and US Open and losing the Wimbledon decider, facing Sinner on all three occasions.

Sinner, who beat Alexander Zverev to win the Australian Open, came out on top against Alcaraz at Wimbledon, but was on the losing side of one of the greatest tennis matches when he threw away a two-set lead in the French Open final against the Spaniard.

The semi-final line-up of the ATP Finals will be completed later on Nov 14 when Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime battle for the chance to finish second behind Sinner and set up a last-four clash with Alcaraz. The match began after press time.

Meanwhile, Musetti has joined Sinner in withdrawing from the Italy team who will defend their Davis Cup title in Bologna next week, with the 23-year-old citing physical and family reasons after his loss to Alcaraz. AFP