Defending champion Jannik Sinner continued his indoor dominance on Wednesday night, booking his place in the ATP Finals semifinals with a confident 6–4, 6–3 victory over Alexander Zverev in front of an adoring Turin crowd.
The Italian No. 1 extended his remarkable 28-match winning streak on indoor hard courts, maintaining his perfect record in the Björn Borg Group and keeping his year-end No. 1 hopes alive.
Jannik Sinner Serves Up Perfection
Although not at his absolute best and struggling with a minor hand issue early on, Sinner’s serving display proved decisive. He fired 12 aces, saved all seven break points he faced, and struck 28 winners to just 14 unforced errors, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
Twice under early pressure, Sinner escaped danger with pinpoint first serves- saving two break points in the opening game and rallying from 0–40 down in the second set. Zverev, who landed 83 percent of his first serves, failed to capitalize on his opportunities and paid the price for two costly service games.
“It was a very close match,” Sinner said afterwards. “I felt like I was serving really well in the important moments. I tried to play my best tennis when it mattered, which fortunately went my way.”
Momentum and Mastery
The first set hung in the balance until game ten, when Sinner converted his third break point with a deft volley to take the opener 6–4. From there, the home favorite rode the energy of the Inalpi Arena crowd, breaking again midway through the second set with a disguised drop shot that left Zverev stranded.
The two-time ATP Finals champion could only shake his head in disbelief as Sinner closed out the match in an hour and 37 minutes- his fifth straight win over Zverev and third in just 17 days following victories in Vienna and Paris.
“He’s not unplayable,” said Zverev, visibly frustrated. “I had many opportunities, he had one and used it. That’s why he’s number one in the world.”
Also Read: Carlos Alcaraz On Jannik Sinner: “I Never Get Tired Of Seeing Him”
Chasing History on Home Soil
The 24-year-old from South Tyrol remains unbeaten in Turin since his runner-up finish to Novak Djokovic two years ago. Since that loss, he has not dropped a set at the year-end championships—an extraordinary run that underscores his comfort on home courts.
Sinner now leads the Björn Borg Group with two wins from two, while Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime each hold one victory. Ben Shelton, winless so far, is already eliminated after falling to Auger-Aliassime earlier in the day.
Still in contention for the ATP Year-End No. 1 ranking, Sinner must win the tournament undefeated and hope that current world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who leads the Jimmy Connors Group, does not record another win.
“There’s a lot of work behind this,” Sinner reflected. “In our sport, confidence is important. I’ve been playing well lately, and you feel even better on the big points. The goal is to play the right way tactically- and be as close to perfect as possible.”
Next Up
Sinner will face Ben Shelton in his final round-robin match, aiming to secure top spot in the group and a potentially favorable semifinal draw. Zverev, meanwhile, must defeat Auger-Aliassime to keep his own hopes alive.
If Sinner continues this imperious form, a repeat of last year’s triumph- and perhaps the year-end No. 1 crown- could well be within reach.
