Jannik Sinner made a step forward in his pursuit of a spot in the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin after his 7-5 6-3 win over Casper Ruud in the quarter finals at the Erste Bank Open in Turin.
“I think there was not a lot of rhythm in the match against Ruud, not so many exchanges. I served well especially on the key points. Obviously there was a lot of pressure on both sides. I am happy how I controlled the match emotionally and everything together. I would say it was a good match”, said Sinner.
Sinner won 11 consecutive indoor matches this autumn season and claimed two ATP 250 titles in Sofia and Antwerp. His winning streak came to an end on Saturday afternoon, when he was beaten by Frances Tiafoe in three sets after 6-3 5-2. Despite the defeat against the US player Sinner has secured a spot in the top 10 for the first time on Monday.
“The last couple of weeks indoors I have felt well. Obviously we can see that in the results as well, but every match is different. I have to stay focused, I have a goal in my mind in this sport and I think I am doing it in the right way”, said Sinner.
Thanks to his win against Ruud, Sinner overtook Hubert Hurkacz and Rafael Nadal to move into the eighth and final qualifying spot in the ATP Race to Turin.
During a very successful season 2021 season Sinner reached his first Masters 1000 final at the Miami Open, where he beat Roberto Bautista Agut in the semifinal before finishing runner-up to his friend Hubert Hurkacz in the final.
Last August Sinner beat Emil Ruusuvuori, Sebastian Korda, Jenson Brooksby en route to the final at the Citi Open in Washington. He defeated Mackenzie McDonald to win his third career title and his first ATP 500 trophy. Sinner was the first Italian champion in Washington tournament history as well as the youngest ATP 500 and first teenager champion since the category was created in 2009.
At the US Open Sinner beat Gael Monfils in the third round to reach the second week of a Grand Slam for the second time this season. Sinner lost to Alexander Zverev 6-4 6-4 7-6 in the fourth round. Sinner scored his second win against Monfils in the final of the Sofia Open defending the ATP 250 title in the Bulgarian capital.
The Vienna Erste Bank Open tournament was also higlighted by another Next Gen star Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Andy Murray 6-3 6-4 in the Round of 16 and this year’s Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini 6-1 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-5) in the quarter final in Vienna this week.
Sinner considers Alcaraz as one of the players to watch on the ATP Tour in the years to come.
“Alcaraz is already one of the best players in the world. He is mentally strong, manages the game, gives the strength to the ball and moves very well”, said Sinner.
Earlier this year Alcaraz made a major breakthrough, when he upset world number 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas in a fifth-set tie-break en route to the US Open quarter final at the age of 18, becoming the youngest quarter final at the US Open and a Grand Slam tournament since Michael Chang at the 1990 US Open. The Spanish teenager clinched the 2021 Umag title to become the youngest ATP Tour champion since Kei Nishikori at 2008 Delray Beach and the youngest ATP champion from his country since Rafael Nadal at 2004 Sopot.
