Match Preview
Turin SF Preview: Sinner vs. Ruud, Zverev vs. Fritz
Sinner, Zverev posted good 3-0 information in group stage
November 15, 2024
ATP
Jannik Sinner leads Casper Ruud 2-0 of their Lexus ATP Head2Head collection, however the Turin semi-final opponents haven’t squared off since 2021.
By Arthur Kapetanakis
After six days of elite group-stage motion on the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals, Saturday begins the knockout rounds in Turin.
Dwelling favorite Jannik Sinner, the No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings, will search to proceed his good week when he takes on Casper Ruud within the Inalpi Enviornment. World No. 2 Alexander Zverev, who additionally posted a 3-0 round-robin file, will meet Taylor Fritz.
In doubles motion, Aussies Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson tackle Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz earlier than high seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic play Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.
[1] Jannik Sinner (ITA) vs. [6] Casper Ruud (NOR)Enjoying on house soil for the primary time this 12 months — and for the primary time as World No. 1 — Sinner has soared into the semis with out dropping a set. The Italian has not misplaced greater than 4 video games in a single body and was damaged simply twice on 4 break possibilities mixed towards De Minaur, Fritz and Medvedev.
“The ambiance right here is superb, so I’m simply attempting to play some good tennis this week,” Sinner mentioned after finishing his undefeated group-stage marketing campaign.
His good begin on the Inalpi Enviornment’s indoor laborious court docket continues an excellent season highlighted by a tour-leading seven titles. Six of these trophies have come on laborious courts, together with his first two Grand Slam titles (Australian Open, US Open) and three ATP Masters 1000s crowns (Miami, Cincinnati, Shanghai).
“I do know what I’ve achieved throughout this 12 months, so I attempt to step on court docket with mindset,” he mentioned of his continued success. “I’ve stunning folks round me who help me each day, which for me is de facto essential. I attempt to take pleasure in my time on the court docket.”
Ruud, whose two 2024 titles got here on the clay of Barcelona and Geneva, has the unenviable process of attempting to sluggish Sinner’s roll on the pavement. He has but to take a set off the Italian in two earlier Lexus ATP Head2Head conferences. Each of these matchups got here on indoor laborious courts in Vienna, however it’s been greater than three years since their final encounter.
The Norwegian might haven’t any higher preparation for the World No. 1 than the gauntlet he confronted to achieve the semis. After beating Alcaraz, the No. 3 man within the PIF ATP Rankings, Ruud allowed only one break level in a decent defeat to World No. 2 Zverev. Understanding he wanted to win a set towards Andrey Rublev to safe his semi-final place, he went one higher and received the match to wrap his group marketing campaign at 2-1.
The duty will solely get more durable on Saturday, when he should deal with each a red-hot Sinner and the Italian crowd.
“He’s the very best participant on the earth all 12 months and is taking part in at house and has not dropped a set all week,” Ruud mentioned. “He’s the participant to beat this 12 months and I’m going to do my finest. It looks like this man virtually forgot the right way to lose. I’ll see if I can give you one thing to problem right here. I shall be ready for in all probability the hardest match of the 12 months.”
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[2] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. [5] Taylor Fritz (USA) Zverev and Fritz have been among the many busiest gamers on the ATP Tour this season. They’re two of simply 5 males with greater than 50 match wins on the 12 months, becoming a member of fellow Turin opponents Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Ruud.
With the Nitto ATP Finals title on the road, each males may have loads extra within the tank.
“I feel plenty of us are fairly beat up,” Fritz mentioned after his three-set win towards Alex de Minaur on Thursday. “But when I’m within the semis of the [Nitto ATP Finals], I’ve acquired power to present.”
Their semi-final assembly shall be Zverev’s ninetieth match of 2024 (69-20) and Fritz’s 74th (51-22). It is going to even be their fifth Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly of 2024.
“I’m pleased with being 3-0 within the group for positive, however I feel now the semi-final goes to be very tough,” mentioned Zverev, who trails Fritz 5-6 of their rivalry. “[Taylor] beat me the previous few instances on the Slams, so I’m trying ahead to that match.”
Zverev defeated the American this 12 months within the Rome quarter-finals, however Fritz prevailed at Wimbledon in 5 units, on the US Open in 4 and at Laver Cup in two. Fritz’s three-match successful streak towards Zverev marks the primary time both man has overwhelmed the opposite 3 times in a row. However the German’s kind — and his standing as year-end No. 2 within the PIF ATP Rankings — makes him the slight favorite in Turin.
Fritz practically pulled off the upset towards Sinner within the round-robin stage, giving the house favorite all he might deal with in two tight units earlier than being damaged within the remaining recreation of every. He then dropped the opening set towards Alex de Minaur earlier than discovering his serve to show that match round and, finally, seal his semi-final place.
On this Saturday showdown, each males will look to make use of their huge serves to set the tone. The perfect method is an easy one: dominate service video games and pile on the stress when returning. However nothing is straightforward on the Nitto ATP Finals.
Doubles SFsThursday’s outcomes meant Arevalo and Pavic clinched Yr-Finish ATP Doubles No. 1 offered by PIF honours as a group for the primary time. On Friday, the Turin high seeds beat house favourites Bolelli and Vavassori to seal their place within the semi-finals.
The Salvadoran/Croatian pair will hope to proceed their constructive streak towards the in-form group of the event, Heliovaara and Patten. Exceeding their billing as seventh seeds, the British/Finnish group was the lone doubles duo to submit a 3-0 group file this week.
The other semi-final will see two pairs of countrymen sq. off as fifth-seeded Aussies Purcell and Thompson tackle eighth-seeded Germans Krawietz and Puetz. Each groups completed round-robin play at 2-1. The Aussies completed second within the Mike Bryan Group whereas the Germans topped the Bob Bryan group due to their 5-2 set file.
