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Sinner, Fritz US Open final rematch headlines Turin Day 3

Action from the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals continues to ramp up on Tuesday, with players from Ilie Nastase Group returning for the second set of round-robin matches.

Day 1 winners Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz will reprise their recent US Open final, with the winner taking pole position in the Ilie Nastase Group. Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur, who suffered opening-day defeats are looking for a critical win to work their way back into semi-final contention.

In the doubles, Mike Bryan Group will also play host to some intriguing meetings. Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson will continue their debut run in Turin against Wimbledon champions Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten before second seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos face Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic.

[ATP APP]

[1] Jannik Sinner (ITA) vs [5] Taylor Fritz (USA)
Fritz will be hoping that lightning does not strike twice when he steps on court against home favourite Sinner on Tuesday evening at the Inalpi Arena. 

Sinner, the No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, won the pair’s most recent encounter in the championship match at Flushing Meadows in September and will head into their upcoming clash oozing with confidence, having won his past seven matches. 

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Nitto launches auction to support Torino Green Project

Imagine watching the world’s best tennis players at the Nitto ATP Finals or even stepping onto the court with them for the pre-match coin toss. Now, thanks to the Nitto 2024 auction, this dream can become a reality, while supporting the impactful Torino Green Project, launched by Nitto in November 2023.

Ending on 17 November, the auction offers exclusive items like match tickets, the rare chance to perform the ceremonial coin toss at the season finale and players’ signed goods. The auction invites fans to bid on unforgettable experiences, all while contributing to a meaningful cause.

All proceeds from the auction will go toward the City of Turin, in support of the Nitto ATP Finals Torino Green Project, a sustainability initiative created in partnership with the ATP Tour. The project focuses on minimising the environmental impact of large events, promoting sustainable practices throughout Turin.

Key initiatives include waste reduction and support for green projects like tree regeneration at Cavalieri di Vittorio Veneto Park a park next to the tournament venue and creating a green bus stop within the city of Turin for the aim of Co2 reduction. The auction funds will help ensure a lasting, positive impact on Turin's environment and serve as a model for sustainable development.

[ATP APP]

Anna Orfanidou was a lucky fan who through the auction claimed the unforgettable experience of performing the coin toss ahead of Sunday evening’s match between Jannik Sinner and Alex de Minaur.

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Fired up Bolelli/Vavassori blitz through Nitto ATP Finals opener

Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori wasted little time in getting their Nitto ATP Finals campaign underway Monday on home soil.

The Italian fourth seeds did not blink in an emphatic 6-2, 6-3 win over Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden to kick-start their team debut at the season finale in style. To the delight of the home crowd, Bolelli and Vavassori offered no let up in a near-flawless first set, during which they won 13 out of 14 first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, before racing to a 56-minute victory. 

After improving to 3-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Bopanna/Ebden, Bolelli and Vavassori moved to 1-0 in Bob Bryan Group. They will face Kevin Krawietz/Tim Puetz and Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic in the remaining round-robin matches.

Sending the home crowd in a FRENZY ???

A sensational opening win for @BolelliSimone and Andrea Vavassori as they defeat Bopanna/Ebden 6-2 6-3!!!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/qEARfsGt4h

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 11, 2024

The Italians made a lightning fast start inside Inalpi Arena, with Turin-born Vavassori firing a forehand return winner to break Bopanna’s serve in the second game. It was a statement start that set the tone for the remainder of the match, during which they carved out eight break points.

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Christian Ruud on Casper's 'extra motivation', beating Alcaraz & more

Casper Ruud made the perfect start to his Nitto ATP Finals on Monday when he upset former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Carlos Alcaraz for his first win against the Spaniard.

Two years ago, the Norwegian made the championship match at the Inalpi Arena. He has picked up where he left off in Turin and it is no coincidence, according to his father and coach, Christian Ruud.

“He was, of course, very proud the first year he qualified here and it's special to be among the eight best,” Christian told ATPTour.com. “I think he gets a little bit extra motivation and finds a little extra energy, it looks like. So especially this year, it's been a tough last couple months.

“We put a lot of work into trying to play well here, and today had a good start. He feels comfortable on the court, and he feels comfortable here in Italy with good pasta and good food. He just enjoys it here, I think.”

 

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Know When to Attack and Defend

Knowing when to attack and when to defend is a crucial aspect of playing tennis strategically. It allows you to dictate the tempo of the match and conserve energy for key moments. Here's how to read the game and make the right decisions: When to Attack:When Your Opponent Is Out of Position:Movement: If your opponent is caught off balance or far fro...

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Alcaraz: 'You can feel bad one day, good the next’

Carlos Alcaraz will have left the court in the Inalpi Arena with a bad taste in his mouth after losing to Casper Ruud in his 2024 Nitto ATP Finals opener.

The Spaniard, who only managed to win one game in the first set, looked ready to mount a comeback with a 5-2 lead in the second set, but he eventually lost to a player who he had previously always beaten (4-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series before today). Alcaraz must now endure an uphill struggle if he is to progress from the John Newcombe Group.

“I don’t like talking about things like this because it sounds like an excuse and I don’t want to take anything away from what Casper did to win the match,” began Alcaraz. “Before coming here, I was unwell at home. When I got to Turin, practice was going well; I could handle long rallies, competing and playing. And I hoped things would get better as the days went by.

"I don’t know if it was because of the nerves of the first match, but I didn’t feel completely well. My stomach limited my game a lot and made me feel uncomfortable. I could’ve done better. I’m not going to feel good in every match I play throughout the year, but it really limited me in terms of my recovery.”

[ATP APP]

After scavenging just one game in the opening set, the four-time Grand Slam champion stepped things up and changed the dynamic of the encounter, earning himself a 5-2 lead. He was on the brink of taking the match to a deciding set, but Ruud had other ideas, digging deep to win five consecutive games and putting the final nail in Alcaraz’s coffin.

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The Aftermatch: James Bond fashion & Sinner's hair, Ruud goes Live

Another day, another Instagram Live, with Casper Ruud the latest star to take the hot seat for ‘The Aftermatch’.

Following his win against Carlos Alcaraz at the Nitto ATP Finals, Ruud joined host Max Whittle in Turin, where the pair discussed Ruud’s James Bond-based fashion, Norwegian fans, Sinner’s hair and much more…

Catch the must-watch live interview below as Ruud spills the tea.

Tune in across ATP Tour and Nitto ATP Finals social channels after every daytime singles match during the event to watch more of your favourite stars go Live.

On Sunday, Taylor Fritz brought his A-game on Sunday not just to the court but also to Instagram Live, where he became the very first guest on ‘The Aftermatch’ with host Max Whittle.

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Ruud rocks Turin, upsets Alcaraz at Nitto ATP Finals

When it comes to the Nitto ATP Finals, Casper Ruud rarely brings anything below his best.

The Norwegian on Monday upset Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 7-5 to register a huge early shock at the prestigious season finale in Turin. Ruud, who reached the championship match on his previous Nitto ATP Finals appearance in 2022, expertly capitalised on a lacklustre performance from the third-seeded Alcaraz to seal an 86-minute victory inside Inalpi Arena.

“it’s only one match, but it’s definitely one of the best wins of the season for me,” said Ruud. “In terms of who I’m playing, his level, his ranking and all this stuff. I feel very happy of course. I think we will see Carlos play better tennis than he did today, but I took care of my chances.

“I have not been [full of] confidence in the past weeks or months, so it was a great win for me and hopefully I can build on it, and I would like to get some more wins while I am in Turin.”

Although Alcaraz appeared below his physical best during Monday’s encounter, Ruud looked transformed from the player who entered the match having registered just two wins since the US Open. The 25-year-old struck the ball cleanly off both wings and showed few signs of nerves in serving out for his first Lexus ATP Head2Head win in five attempts against Alcaraz.

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Part 2: Nadal, Jordan, Ronaldo; Nitto ATP Finals stars pick their champions

From Michael Jordan and Cristiano Ronaldo to Rafael Nadal and Avicii, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev weighed in on the champions who have inspired them during Thursday’s media day at the Nitto ATP Finals.

Zverev, Alcaraz, Ruud and Rublev will all try to become the ultimate champion at the prestigious year-end event in Turin, where they compete in the John Newcombe Group. Ahead of their opening matches, the quartet took time to discuss their idols, sharing their favourite memories.

“Firstly, I would choose Rafael Nadal,” said Alcaraz, who grew up watching his countryman. “In my family, at home, we always watch tennis. My father was a player when he was young, and there was only tennis on the TV. Rafa was Spanish and the way he played, the way he behaved, inspired me a lot. That is why he is my idol.”

Alcaraz has enjoyed several memorable moments with Nadal, most notably at the Paris Olympics in July, when the team paired in doubles. The 21-year-old has demonstrated his champion qualities throughout his early historic career, becoming the youngest player to win majors on all three surfaces (Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open).

Away from tennis, the Spaniard was quick to identify Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Jordan as idols.

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Inside Zverev & Alcaraz's World No. 2 battle

Jannik Sinner wrapped ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours in October, but the battle for year-end No. 2 is still up for grabs.

Alexander Zverev enters the Nitto ATP Finals in pole position to finish just behind Sinner. The German holds a 505-point lead over No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, but the Spaniard still has an opportunity to swap places with the two-time season finale champion.

A player could earn 1,500 points with an undefeated run to the title at the Inalpi Arena, giving Alcaraz a chance to overcome that deficit. Each round-robin win is worth 200 PIF ATP Rankings points, semi-final victories 400 points and a triumph in the final 500 points.

PIF ATP Live Rankings (entering 11 November)

 Player  Points
 1) Jannik Sinner  10,530
 2) Alexander Zverev   7,315
 3) Carlos Alcaraz  6,810
 4) Daniil Medvedev  4,830
 5) Taylor Fritz  4,500
 6) Novak Djokovic  3,910
 7) Casper Ruud  3,855
 8) Andrey Rublev  3,760
 9) Alex de Minaur  3,745
 10) Grigor Dimitrov  3,350

Zverev and Alcaraz are both in the John Newcombe Group, so they are guaranteed to meet at least once in Turin. That could prove pivotal in the battle for World No. 2. Alcaraz is trying to finish in the top two for the third consecutive year, while Zverev is attempting to do so for the first time.

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Inspired Krawietz/Puetz stun Arevalo/Pavic in Turin

Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz sprang an early upset in style on Monday at the Nitto ATP Finals.

The German duo sank top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 6-3, 6-4 in the opening match of Bob Bryan Group at the prestigious season finale. Krawietz and Puetz clinched the only break of serve in each set en route to a 63-minute triumph, during which they won 89 per cent (32/36) of points behind first serves.

By notching victory on their Nitto ATP Finals team debut, the eighth-seeded Krawietz and Puetz improved to 4-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Arevalo and Pavic. All six of those meetings have been played across 2024.

STATEMENT MADE ?

Kevin Krawietz and @GoldenSetTim turn on the style to defeat the top seeds Arevalo/Pavic in the Bob Bryan Group!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/czINdiCP7f

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 11, 2024

“Of course to start with a win is very important, also for the whole tournament,” said Krawietz. “We get a good feeling on the big court, and I think everything was working very well.”

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View the best photos from behind the scenes at the Vogue shoot

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Sinner on De Minaur win: 'I'm glad I managed this level'

After one month without competitive tennis, perhaps Jannik Sinner surprised himself with the calibre of tennis he produced on Sunday night at the Nitto ATP Finals.

The No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings admitted to feeling some rust in the early stages of his opening match against debutant Alex de Minaur, but it wasn’t long before he was near his blistering best. After trailing an early break, Sinner found his rhythm and wrapped up victory in 85 minutes to kick-start his quest for a maiden trophy at the prestigious season finale. 

“I'm glad that I managed to play this kind of level today,” said Sinner, whose last tour-level match was his Shanghai Masters triumph in October. “It's a great start for my side for this event, for this tournament, considering I haven't played an official match in four weeks.

“Every match, it's very difficult to play against him. He's a great fighter. You have to earn every point you play. Every time we play, he changes a couple of things, so I have to be very aware. It's very difficult. We don't have to see only the result, but also how the match goes.”

Sinner, who notched his Tour-leading 66th win of 2024 (alongside Alexander Zverev), is bidding to become just the third player to win the Australian Open, US Open and Nitto ATP Finals in one season (Federer, Djokovic). With his win over De Minaur, the 23-year-old is level with Taylor Fritz - his next opponent - at the top of the Ilie Nastase Group.

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Sinner sweeps past De Minaur in Turin opener

Jannik Sinner quickly shook off some early rust to power to an impressive opening victory on Sunday night at the Nitto ATP Finals.

The home favourite prevailed 6-3, 6-4 against Alex de Minaur to kick-start his 2024 campaign at the prestigious season finale. Competing in his first match since he lifted the Rolex Shanghai Masters trophy on 13 October, Sinner responded superbly to dropping serve in the third game of the match against De Minaur. He wrapped victory in 85 minutes at Inalpi Arena to move to 1-0 in Ilie Nastase Group.

“Considering [how long since I last played], I’m very happy,” said Sinner. “I started off with some unforced errors. He was playing great in the beginning of the match, so I just tried to stay there mentally, knowing that hopefully at some point my tennis would arrive. It arrived quite early, and I started to return very well.

“My serve, for sure I have to improve if I want to [win] the next match. Against Taylor [Fritz] for example, today he played really well. Let’s see, but today I’m very pleased about the win and hopefully this can give me confidence for the next one.”

??? Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole... SINNER! SINNER! ???@janniksin begins his quest for the #NittoATPFinals title with a comprehensive victory over de Minaur on home soil! pic.twitter.com/v4G696CjHe

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View the best photos from Day 1 at the Nitto ATP Finals

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Sinner, Zverev, Alcaraz & Co. feature in Vogue

For the elite eight who have earned the right to compete at this year’s Nitto ATP Finals, their fortnight in Turin extends further than the court inside the Inalpi Arena.

Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev and Alex de Minaur all swapped their racquets for a fine dress shirt on Thursday for a photo shoot with Vogue.

The players reflected on their years, both on and off the court, before gathering for group photos in their finest attire. You can read more about the day on the Vogue website

Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

“Seeing my parents after Australia,” Sinner responded when asked of his best moment off the court. “Just seeing them happy and spending time with them. I don’t have so much time with my parents, so it was a very nice moment.”

a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/daniil-medvedev/mm58/overview'Daniil Medvedev/a, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/taylor-fritz/fb98/overview'Taylor Fritz/a, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/andrey-rublev/re44/overview'Andrey Rublev/a, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/jannik-sinner/s0ag/overview'Jannik Sinner/a, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/carlos-alcaraz/a0e2/overview'Carlos Alcaraz/a, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/casper-ruud/rh16/overview'Casper Ruud/a, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/alexander-zverev/z355/overview'Alexander Zverev/a, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/alex-de-minaur/dh58/overview'Alex de Minaur/a
a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/taylor-fritz/fb98/overview'Taylor Fritz/a
a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/alex-de-minaur/dh58/overview'Alex de Minaur/a
a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/daniil-medvedev/mm58/overview'Daniil Medvedev/a
a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/andrey-rublev/re44/overview'Andrey Rublev/a, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/taylor-fritz/fb98/overview'Taylor Fritz/a, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/jannik-sinner/s0ag/overview'Jannik Sinner/a, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/carlos-alcaraz/a0e2/overview'Carlos Alcaraz/a and a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/casper-ruud/rh16/overview'Casper Ruud/a
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Heliovaara/Patten mark Nitto ATP Finals debut with commanding win

Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten could not have asked for a better way to kick-start their debut run at the Nitto ATP Finals.

The seventh seeds produced a steely performance Sunday to defeat 2023 finalists Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 7-6(2), 6-4 and open their account in Turin. Heliovaara and Patten carried their momentum from a dominant first-set tie-break to move ahead early in the second. They commanded on serve throughout the encounter, during which they saved each of the two break points they faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

"[We're] very, very pleased, we really showed we are here and one of the top eight teams," said Heliovaara. "We played a great match. We didn't lose our serve once and we stayed offensive when it mattered. We followed our game plan so well and I think we deserved the win."

The deadly duo ⚡️⚡️

First W on the board for reigning Wimbledon champs, Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/2wVYqFBOUp

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 10, 2024

Heliovaara and Patten's exquisite touch was on full display in the tie-break, and the pair did not look back. In the third game of the second set, they each found a pinpoint return to clinch the opening break of the match, one that proved to be decisive. 

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Zverev & Rublev renew rivalry in Turin

The 2024 Nitto ATP Finals continues Monday, after which all eight singles players and all eight doubles teams in Turin will have played one match.

The John Newcombe Group begins singles play on Day 2, with Alexander Zverev taking on Andrey Rublev and Carlos Alcaraz meeting Casper Ruud. In doubles action, top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic face Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz before Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori play Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden.

[ATP APP]

[2] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. [8] Andrey Rublev
Zverev played the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals at the seventh seed to cap his comeback season from ankle surgery. He notched two wins, but it was not enough to make the knockout rounds.

This season, the German enters Turin as the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings behind his ATP Masters 1000 titles in Rome and Paris, as well as a runner-up finish at Roland Garros.

“In 2023, I didn’t feel like I was competitive in big events. I was far away from winning them,” Zverev said in Turin. “Being able to compete and make Grand Slam finals, win Masters 1000 events, that is a big satisfaction to me because there were obviously question marks if I was ever going to do that again after the injury.”

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'Happy' Nishikori wins Helsinki Challenger title

Kei Nishikori returned to the winner's circle on Sunday.

The former No. 4 player in the PIF ATP Rankings claimed his first title of the season when he won the ATP Challenger Tour event in Helsinki. He defeated Luca Nardi 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to triumph at the HPP Open.

“It’s great," Nishikori said. "It’s been a long time since I won a title. This was a really tough week, tough final. Luca played really good in the final. I almost lost my chance, but I was able to play solid in the end."

“It was not easy. Semi-final was tough, played two and a half hours and recovered for today and played another three sets. Not easy, but this is my last tournament of the year so I just tried to give 100 per cent for this match today and I think I did very well."

Nishikori has won 25 of his past 29 matches on the ATP Challenger Tour dating back to the Dallas Challenger in 2018.

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The Aftermatch: From best-dressed to hair dilemma, Fritz goes Live to reveal all

Taylor Fritz brought his A-game on Sunday not just to the court but also to Instagram Live, where he became the very first guest on ‘The Aftermatch’ with host Max Whittle.

Fans got to see Fritz's fun side when he spilled the tea in this lively post-match chat!

After clinching a win against Daniil Medvedev at the Nitto ATP Finals, the 27-year-old shared all. He cracked jokes about his recent viral hair transformation, dished on who stole the show as the best-dressed at media day, and even got a surprise gift from Whittle.

Catch the must-watch Live interview below – it’s the post-match breakdown you didn’t know you needed!

Tune in across ATP Tour and Nitto ATP Finals social channels after every daytime singles match during the event to watch more of your favourite stars go Live.

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