Jannik Sinner silences Zverev again, storms into ATP Finals semis in Turin
Jannik Sinner’s ascent in the sport isn’t just real. It’s roaring.
And on Wednesday night, under the glowing lights of the Inalpi Arena in Turin, the 22-year-old Italian gave his home crowd another reason to believe that the torch is firmly passing into his hands.
With a 6-4, 6-3 win over Alexander Zverev — his third over the German in just 17 days — Sinner became the first man to qualify for the semifinals of the ATP Finals this week.
The win was a statement. A clean, sharp performance built on a sizzling serve, clutch instincts, and the unflinching nerve of a player with his eyes on the very top.
“It was very, very competitive, a very close match,” Sinner said on court, sweat still fresh on his brow. “I felt like I was serving very well in the important moments today. I tried to play the best tennis possible when it mattered, and fortunately today it went my way.”
That calm under pressure has defined Sinner’s season. And this match.
Zverev, a two-time champion at this event (2018 and 2021), came out aggressive and carved out two break points in the opening game. Sinner erased both with aces. That opening set the tone. Zverev would get his chances, but Sinner had answers. All night long.
He faced seven break points total, and didn’t blink once. On each of them, he landed a first serve, often unreturnable, including three straight while down 0-40 early in the second set. Twelve aces told only part of the story. His placement and composure told the rest.
Sinner’s record against Zverev now stands at 6-4, a remarkable turnaround considering the German led their head-to-head 4-1 not long ago.
Since the US Open, where Zverev notched his last win in the series, the Italian has ripped off five straight victories, each with its own texture. A bruising three-set final in Vienna, a jaw-dropping 6-0, 6-1 dismantling in Paris, and now this clean, clinical, and full of belief victory.
“We both changed a little bit tactically, so I felt like we both were trying to hit quite fast, quite flat,” Sinner explained. “But I’m very happy with how I returned his serve. It’s very difficult. One of the best serves in the game. The group I’m in, with Sascha and Ben, it’s very difficult to return their serves.”
Indeed, it’s been a masterclass in adaptability.
Sinner’s returns bit through the Turin air with uncanny timing, and on serve, he was practically untouchable. He finished with 28 winners — 26 of which came via his forehand and serve — and just 14 unforced errors.
With the win, Sinner moves to 2-0 in the Bjorn Borg group, with one round-robin match remaining against Ben Shelton. Felix Auger-Aliassime’s win earlier in the day means Sinner has already clinched a semifinal berth as group winner. Shelton, by contrast, is eliminated.
Friday’s Zverev vs. Auger-Aliassime clash will decide who joins Sinner in the semis.
