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Fritz: 'I feel I like belong' in the Top 5

Taylor Fritz made significant progress in 2024. The American reached his maiden major final at the US Open and this week advanced to the title match at the Nitto ATP Finals, ending the season at a career-high No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

The American lost in straight sets to Jannik Sinner in the final in Turin on Sunday night but is delighted with his year overall.

“It's been a really good week for me. Obviously, it's a good way to end the year. It gives me a lot of confidence finishing the season like this,” Fritz said. “Something I told my team in 2023 when I hit World No. 5 for a week right before I was defending the Indian Wells title, was 'That's crazy, I'm five the world, look at all these guys ranked behind me that are probably better than me’.

“Back then I was five, but I didn't feel like I was five. Now I'm ranked where I'm at. I feel like I belong. It's a different feeling. It's been a great year. That gives me a lot of confidence to have that belief. That's a huge part of having the big results. The goals I set for myself at the start of the year was to finish Top 5.”

Fritz earned wins against Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur to become the first American to reach the Nitto ATP Finals title match since James Blake in 2006. However, the 27-year-old had no answers against Sinner, who also beat the fifth seed in the round-robin stage by the same scoreline as the final.

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AR hot shots from Nitto ATP Finals win over new fans

Fans following the Nitto ATP Finals on social media this week had a fun new way to engage with the season finale.

Through a combination of Augmented Reality technology, 3D modelling and live data, fans were able to enjoy select hot shots from the Nitto ATP Finals in a first for the tournament, with a younger audience firmly in mind.

The clips began with a stunning Casper Ruud lob and would go on to include a Daniil Medvedev backhand, Carlos Alcaraz's dazzling court coverage, Taylor Fritz's Thor-like forehand and Alexander Zverev's electric backhand.

To view the full AR immersive hot shots on Instagram, click this link or scan the QR code at the top of the page.

Watch all of them in our AR playlist below.

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Sinner on Turin triumph: 'There is room for improvement!'

In a season where expectation was rarely voiced but excellence was constantly delivered, Jannik Sinner emerged as a standout performer.

The Italians emphatic victory at the Nitto ATP Finals on Sunday was even sweeter as it marked his first title on home soil, tying a bow on an impressive year. It is a year in which he has posted a 70-6 record, including triumphs at the Australian Open, US Open and the prestigious season finale in Turin, yet Sinner is still hungry for more.

“I actually believe there is still a gap of improvement,” Sinner said following his 6-4, 6-4 win over Taylor Fritz in the title match in Turin, “Today I served very, very good at times, which was not the case throughout the whole tournament. There are still certain shots and points that I can do better, but [these] are small details.

“The higher you play level-wise, the more details make the difference. I’m always trying to improve as a player and trying to understand what I can do better.”

Let the celebrations begin ?@ConsorzioAsti | #AstiVibe | #partner pic.twitter.com/JDLyz8H745

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Photo Gallery: Inside Sinner's locker room celebrations

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Brain Game: Sinner short and sweet when it counted vs. Fritz

It was an avalanche of short rallies that once again buried Taylor Fritz.

Jannik Sinner defeated Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the Nitto ATP Finals on Sunday with another all-conquering performance in the first four shots of the point. Sinner defeated Fritz by the same scoreline in their round-robin match earlier in the week. The Italian was simply too strong with the first two times he struck the ball in the point all evening long.

 

[ATP AWARDS]

In their round-robin match, Sinner won six (43-37) more points in the 0-4 rally length, according to Infosys ATP Stats. In the final, Sinner once again crafted an identical six-point advantage, winning the first strike points 46-40. In the final, a sizable 74 per cent (86/117) of all points were played in short rallies, ramping up the significance of winning this rally length since it counted for almost three out of every four points played.

Sinner won the mid-length rallies of 5-8 shots by only one shot, eight to seven. He won it by only two shots (18-16) in their round-robin encounter. Sinner won the long rallies of 9+ shots by two shots (9-7) in both the round-robin match and the final. Sinner was essentially allowed to copy and paste the identical first-strike tactics from one match to the other. The problem for Fritz was that he could not switch up his tactics enough to make a difference.

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Sinner's historic season: Five fast facts

Jannik Sinner capped a historic season on Sunday when he defeated Taylor Fritz to claim his first Nitto ATP Finals title.

In recognition of the Italian’s year, ATPTour.com looks at five fun facts about Sinner’s memorable season.

He became the first Italian No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings history
Sinner began his 2024 season at World No. 4, but he would not stay there long. By 10 June, the then-22-year-old had made history.

The Italian became the first player from his country to become World No. 1 in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings. He has not looked back since, holding the spot through the end of the year.

Sinner clinched ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours during the Rolex Shanghai Masters in October.

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Relive Nitto ATP Finals Championship Sunday

The Nitto ATP Finals came to a close on Sunday with a memorable day of championship matches, headlined by Jannik Sinner’s victory against Taylor Fritz and Kevin Krawietz/Tim Puetz’s triumph in doubles.

ATPTour.com relives the day through the ATP Tour’s social media channels.

Sinner became the first Italian Nitto ATP Finals champion in tournament history. The 23-year-old defeated Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final to lift the trophy.

THE UNDEFEATED ITALIAN KING ???

In front of his adoring public, World No. 1 @janniksin becomes the first Italian to capture the Nitto ATP Finals title, defeating Fritz 6-4 6-4!!!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/fObgL0n4U9

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 17, 2024

The day began with the doubles final. Krawietz and Puetz became the first German team to capture glory at the season finale. The eighth seeds battled past top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 7-6(5), 7-6(6) in a gripping championship clash.

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Italy to host ATP Finals for five more years

The ATP and FITP have today announced that the ATP Finals will be staged in Italy for a further five years, through 2030. The extension follows a five-year term through 2025 in Turin, where the ATP’s season finale has excelled.

The Nitto ATP Finals has experienced standout success in Italy, reinforcing its legacy as a major global sporting event and the crown jewel of the Tour. This year in Turin, the event attracted a record-breaking on-site audience of more than 183,000, with all 15 sessions sold out across the eight days. Prize money in 2024 reached $15.25 million – an all-time tournament record. With five additional years of collaboration, ATP and FITP will continue to drive progress, capitalising on Italy’s position as one of the world’s strongest and most established tennis markets.

ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: “Over the past four years, Italy has shown itself as an incredible host of our most prestigious event, with the vision to create a truly special experience for both players and fans. Thank you to FITP and all event partners for their support over the past four years. We look forward to continuing to raise the bar together.”

FITP President Angelo Binaghi said: “Tennis has a special place in the history and culture of this country. The Nitto ATP Finals are treasured by Italian fans, and this connection is now stronger than ever with Jannik Sinner as the World No.1. We look ahead with excitement, confident in the knowledge that this event will continue to grow even stronger in the years ahead.”

The location options beyond 2025 are under evaluation, with further updates to be provided in due course.

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Sinner conquers Fritz for maiden Nitto ATP Finals crown

Jannik Sinner bookended his stellar season in style Sunday by capturing his maiden Nitto ATP Finals trophy.

The home favourite produced a near-flawless performance to down Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 and become the first Italian champion in the tournament’s 55-year history. Sinner's standout year, which began with victory at the Australian Open, has concluded with his first title on home soil. All dimensions Sinner's vastly improved game were on full display throughout the contest, but his serve proved to be the distinct weapon, from which he won 83 per cent (33/40) of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

“It’s amazing, it’s my first title in Italy and it means so much to me,” said Sinner, who improved to 50-3 on hard courts in 2024. “It’s something very special. I just tried to understand what works best for each opponent, trying to play my best possible tennis. That was the key.

“It was a very high level tournament from my side. At times, I couldn't have played better, so I am very happy.”

THE UNDEFEATED ITALIAN KING ???

In front of his adoring public, World No. 1 @janniksin becomes the first Italian to capture the Nitto ATP Finals title, defeating Fritz 6-4 6-4!!!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/fObgL0n4U9

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Fritz claws past Zverev in Nitto ATP Finals SF thriller

Taylor Fritz became the first American to reach the Nitto ATP Finals title match since James Blake in 2006 on Saturday when he overcame World No. 2 Alexander Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(3) in a Turin thriller.

The fifth seed produced a high-class serving display, struck 32 winners and became the first player to break Zverev’s serve this week en route to his dramatic two-hour, 20-minute triumph. Fritz has now won his past four matches against Zverev, who made three critical errors in the third-set tie-break, and leads the German 7-5 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Into his fifth final of the season, the World No. 5 will aim to win the biggest title of his career when he takes on Italian Jannik Sinner or Norwegian Casper Ruud on Sunday evening.

"I felt like I played an almost perfect first set, but things can change so quickly when you're playing someone like Sascha," Fritz said. "I found myself in some tough spots in the third, when we both started to get on each other's serves even more.

"When I was trying to be aggressive I didn't feel like it was doing much. I just told myself at the end that I had to fight and be solid and tried to take care of my serve the best I could and give him absolutely nothing from the back."

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Zverev successfully uses Video Review in Nitto ATP Finals SFs

Video Review led to the overturn of a call and the replay of a point on Saturday in the Nitto ATP Finals semi-final between Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz.

At 1-0 in the second set, Zverev rushed forward and lunged to retrieve a ball with a backhand swipe. Chair umpire Adel Nour called not up, awarding the point to Fritz.

However, upon Video Review requested by Zverev, Nour overturned his call and ordered that the point be replayed. Zverev then won the replayed point.

 

When a reviewable call is challenged, the Video Review operator finds the best view of the incident through available camera angles, then sends the video to a screen attached to the umpire’s chair. The umpire then reviews the video to determine if there is clear evidence to support the original decision or to overturn the decision. If there is no clear evidence, the original decision stands.

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Russell: How Fritz can put pressure on Sinner in Turin final

Two years ago Taylor Fritz made his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals and advanced to the semi-finals. On Sunday, the American will try to cap his second appearance in the season finale with a trophy.

But the fifth seed will face a big challenge in the final at the Inalpi Arena when he stands across the net from top seed Jannik Sinner. It is a rematch of both this year’s US Open final and a clash from Group Ilie Nastase play earlier this week.

“I thought the match here was actually even a higher level from both guys. Jannik is extremely even-keeled,” Fritz’s coach, Michael Russell, told ATPTour.com. “He’s just so calm under pressure and explosive out of the corners. He’s very agile and able to turn defence into offence better than most of the guys on Tour, which makes it challenging.

“But Taylor knows that and Taylor, when he serves how he can serve with high percentages, it puts so much pressure on his opponents. He has a lot of confidence and he’s hitting the ball great.”

Watch Fritz Turin SF Highlights:

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Alcaraz on Nadal’s farewell: ‘Probably the most special tournament I’ll play’

A day after being knocked out of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Carlos Alcaraz landed in Málaga to join the Spanish team, which will take the court against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup Final 8. It’s a competition that is always special, but this time will be a momentous occasion because it will be Rafael Nadal’s last tournament as a professional.

And the significance of it hasn’t eluded Alcarez. Far from it.

‘It’s probably the most special tournament I’ll play in my career, because of what’s happening, because of the circumstances,’ Alcaraz began. ‘The Davis Cup has always been a tournament that I’d love to win one day, I’m passionate about representing Spain. I’ve said it many times: one of the greatest things in the world is being able to represent your country in any field. Having Rafa by my side, knowing it’s his last tournament, will make it much more special,’ he went on.

‘I’ll try to contribute and help the team any way I can – for me, for Spain and especially for Rafa. No player deserves more to finish the incredible career he had with a title, and I know how special the Davis Cup is for him. It will be a difficult challenge but winning it for Rafa is a huge motivation.’

[ATP AWARDS]

Alcaraz, 21, is clear about what the priorities are for the next week, aware that Nadal’s farewell is a unique moment in his life.

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Sinner wary of Fritz revenge bid in Turin title match

It’s a high bar to suggest that Jannik Sinner has unfinished business at the end of a season in which he earned his first two Grand Slams among seven titles and became the first Italian man to claim ATP Year-end No. 1 honours presented by PIF.

Yet one burning ambition remains to make the season feel truly complete. Twelve months on from an uncharacteristically flat performance against Novak Djokovic in the Nitto ATP Finals title match, Sinner is looking to win the season finale for the first time in front of his adoring fans, who walked out of the Inalpi Arena deflated.

 

[ATP AWARDS]

Much work is to be done Sunday to make the dream a reality, however, as the 23-year-old faces a fifth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting (all on hard) with Taylor Fritz, who snapped the eight-match winning streak of two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev in a gripping semi-final Saturday to move to a career-high No. 4 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

Fritz, the first American to reach the final since James Blake in 2006, claimed the first of the pair’s meetings at Indian Wells in 2021, but Sinner has won the past three, including a straight-sets win in group play earlier this week, and in September’s US Open final.

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Arevalo/Pavic face Krawietz/Puetz for 7th time this season in Turin final

Just as World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will look to cap his banner year with the Nitto ATP Finals title Sunday, so too will year-end doubles No. 1 team Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, who meet Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz for the seventh time this season.

Salvadoran Arevalo and Croatian Pavic fell in straight sets when the teams met in group play this week, and trail the Germans 2-4 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Arevalo and Pavic had won just three matches against all opposition since falling to the Germans in the US Open semi-finals, but are now in position to punctuate their year with a fifth title of the season and first since Cincinnati in August.

“It means a lot. I think this was the goal at the beginning of the tournament and also ending the season in the best way possible,” Arevalo said of the title quest.

 

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How Sinner is ready to re-write the finale against Fritz

Twelve months ago, Jannik Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in the round-robin stage but fell to the Serbian in the title match at the Nitto ATP Finals. On Sunday, the Italian will take on Taylor Fritz in the championship match in Turin, having overcome the American in Ilie Nastase Group play.

Since his final defeat to Djokovic in 2023, the 23-year-old has won majors at the Australian Open and US Open, while he has earned ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours.

With added experience in his locker and feel-good factor high, Sinner is ready to write a different narrative on Sunday.

“It's a very similar position as I was in last year,” Sinner said in his post-match press conference. “Just I've grown in the past 12 months as a player. Sunday is going to be a very interesting day in any case. I'm happy again to be in this position. It's a very special occasion. Sundays in each tournament means that you had a great, great week.

"Hopefully I'm going to enjoy tomorrow and we see what's coming out. I'm happy to be in this position again.”

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Does he have freezing powers? Zverev's AR Immersive Hot Shot takes control and lights up Turin

Is Alexander Zverev’s stone-cold powerful backhand perhaps one of the biggest weapons in his arsenal?

The German’s sensational hitting against Carlos Alcaraz features in the latest Nitto ATP Finals Immersive Highlight, which aims to help attract a younger audience and present ATP tennis in a new and innovative way during the 2024 season finale. Thanks to a combination of Augmented Reality technology, 3D modelling and live data, fans can enjoy a scintillating court coverage from Zverev that ends with a booming backhand!

 

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Sinner soars past Ruud to Nitto ATP Finals title match

Jannik Sinner moved to within one win of capping his standout season in style on Saturday when he dispatched Casper Ruud 6-1, 6-2 to reach the title match at the Nitto ATP Finals for the second consecutive year.

The Italian received a roaring reception from the vocal home crowd when he walked onto court inside the Inalpi Arena and the World No. 1 used the energy to his advantage in an electric 70-minute display.

Sinner’s depth, weight of shot and pinpoint accuracy were too much for Ruud, who was blown away by a tidal wave of power in the pair’s third Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting (3-0 Sinner).

"I felt I was returning well in the first games of each set and then when going up a break I tried to be very concentrated with service games,” Sinner said. “I tried to be intense with each shot and I'm very happy with the performance and to be in the final again."

With the 69th win of his historic season, the 23-year-old became the youngest player since 20-year-old Lleyton Hewitt in 2002 to reach multiple title matches at the prestigious year-end event.

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Nadal: ‘I’m here to relish this week’

‘I’m here to relish this week and then we’ll see what happens.’ These were Rafael Nadal’s first words in Málaga before he says goodbye to tennis in his last professional tournament this November.

It’s not just any week or any Davis Cup Finals. A heady blend of excitement, emotion and nostalgia is in the air at the Martín Carpena Arena. Because one of the sport’s great icons is soon to say his adiós.

 

A gigantic 2,600-square-metre poster welcomes the Spanish legend. On a blue background, two words sum up what every fan is feeling: Gracias, Rafa, a few days before Spain takes to the court for the quarter-finals against the Netherlands on Tuesday 19.

‘I’ve been able to prepare pretty well, which is why I’m here, I’ll have to take it day by day,’ the Mallorcan admitted in his comments to the Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET). ‘I haven’t competed for a while and I really just want to experience this week however I can.’

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Zverev: 'This one will hurt more'

Alexander Zverev was close to solving the Taylor Fritz puzzle, but fell short again.

On Saturday, the 27-year-old lost to the inspired American in the semi-finals at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. In a tight three-set battle where only a few points set the two apart, Zverev admitted he fell short at crucial moments.

"This one will hurt maybe a bit more because I thought I played at a decent level and I had more chances generally in the third set. I felt like statistically and shot-wise, my level maybe was even higher than his until the important moments. That's where I kind of blew it. This one will hurt more than the other few," said Zverev.

"I didn't use my chances in the third set at all. I feel like I had more than enough. I played a below-average tie-break, I would say. A lot worse than what the level was throughout the third set from my end."

In one of the most noteworthy rivalries of 2024, Zverev and Fritz faced each other five times, including battles at Wimbledon and the US Open, which went Fritz’s way. Overall, the American, enjoying his best season on the Tour, edged Zverev 4-1 in the Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

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