The opening match of the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals could not have gone any better for the home crowd in Turin, Italy. Jannik Sinner turned in a dominant performance to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 in Green Group round-robin action on Sunday afternoon.
Sinner served at 71 percent, won 89 percent of his first-serve points, and did not face a single break point while cruising in one hour and 25 minutes.
“I was excited to step on court and opening the Finals is really, really special,” the 22-year-old commented. “I knew it was going to be very tough but I think I handled the situation well. I tried to stay aggressive and I am very happy with the performance. I am happy to start off with a win and hopefully I can continue with this intensity.
“It is a special week. We play under a roof, so it is noisier and playing with this crowd is such a special feeling. I tried to be really happy on the court and really focused.”
“I would like to congratulate Jannik on a very good match–a great performance from start to finish,” Tsitsipas praised. “He showed good strength; very responsible play from the beginning of the match, from the very first point. He was attacking a lot, serving really well, (and) kept his composure in those crucial moments.”
In the nightcap, Novak Djokovic clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking–but it wasn’t easy. Djokovic needed three hours and four minutes to hold off Holger Rune 7-6(4), 6-7(1), 6-3. The 36-year-old Serb would have had to go winless in Turin with Carlos Alcaraz going undefeated for there to have been a change at the top of the rankings.
The Red Group will take the court on Monday, when Alcaraz faces Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev goes up against fellow Russian Andrey Rublev.
Sinner looking good, as expected
As Amy said, elsewhere, Sinner has improved so much this year. Rusedski is a surprisingly informative commentator too.
So good to see Rune getting his mojo back too.
Cahill has added to his game hasn’t he? Great coach. Sinner has the tools now to beat Novak but not sure he has the mental strength.
Now is the time to get Novak when he is not at his best and in BO3.
agreed. Novak just 8-7 lifetime in second RR matches.
Rune and Becker seems to work.
Rune is like a coiled spring. Helps him play with aggression at times but also works to sabotage him at others.
that was a good match
Congrats to Novak for 8 year end number 1s. But should be 7.😉😉
why
Just joking! But thinking of that 2018 wimby semi with the roof. If Rafa had won he would have 1 more slam; Novak would have 1 less and Rafa would have been year end#1.
That semi still makes Rafa fans furious because of the roof.
fair!
I am thinking about that FO when Nole asked chair umpire for court to be watered, chair umpire said it’s ok if both players agreed, Rafa said no and he was within his rights to do so, why would he give advantage to his opponent?
The rules at Wimbledon are clear, if the roof was closed when the match was interrupted the roof has to stay closed when match continues regardless of whether conditions, unless both players agree, why would Nole give advantage to his opponent?
“Congrats to Novak for 8 year end number 1s. But should be 7.😉😉”
Should 9, if Nole wasn’t robbed of 2000 Wimbledon points he would finish the year as #1, everyone knows that, Spaniard knows that too, the real #1 was Nole, not him.