Italy’s Jannik Sinner made easy work of the field at the ATP Finals. His spot in the semifinals was clinched after a commanding win against Ben Shelton. The contest, played in ‘dome’ form at the Inalpi Arena, was a nail biter that ended with a 6-3, 7-6 battle to glory. By this win, Sinner is now 29 straight matches undefeated on indoor hardcourt! This victory ensured that Sinner remained top of his group. He is now primed for a contrasting semifinal showdown with Alex de Minaur, a match that promises to have an entirely different feel.
Sinner has been in extraordinary form this season. His hopes of ending the year as world number one evaporated when Carlos Alcaraz raced through the Jimmy Connors Group. Alcaraz has made his own case as a tournament-dominating force. He’s now slated to face Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semis.
Sinner’s Commanding Victory
In their tense quarterfinal showdown, Sinner showcased a talent and poise that belied his age. The opening frame was a runaway as he jumped out to the quick and then won with only a fleeting challenge. The second set proved more difficult, going to a tiebreak. It was Sinner’s experience that came to the fore, helping him to close out the match and secure the win.
Sinner’s performance was perhaps best encapsulated by his calm confidence in closing out the match. The energetic environment in the Inalpi Arena definitively inspired his performance. It allowed him to control the narrative and run his opponent’s game plan into the ground. His upset win against Shelton changed the landscape. It remained true that he hadn’t lost a match in the group stage and he did not lose a match.
“You want to be in the final, but I’ll have to go through a great player to do that.” – Felix Auger-Aliassime
Alcaraz’s Unmatched Performance
Carlos Alcaraz has undoubtedly been the star player of this year’s ATP Finals, going 3-0 in the group stages. He has proven all the determination and talent in his skill set to get himself this far in the tournament. As he gets ready to play his semifinal against Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alcaraz says he is proud of what he’s done this season.
“It’s a pleasure being the number one of the world. It’s something that I’m working really hard for every day. It is a goal, to be honest. For me, it’s a great achievement. It means the world to me and I’m just really proud and happy.” – Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz’s clean sweep proves the depth of the Spaniard’s remarkable skills. That spellbinding run raised the bar for what to expect from Davis in the semifinals. Against Auger-Aliassime, their semifinal match should be electric as each tries to grab a place in the final.
Auger-Aliassime Claims Last Semifinal Spot
Felix Auger-Aliassime earned the last semifinal spot as he knocked off Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6. This win came on the heels of Auger-Aliassime’s recent defeat of rising star Ben Shelton, further entrenching his position in the tournament with compatriots Sinner and Alcaraz.
With this defeat Zverev’s tournament comes to an end after losing to Sinner in the group stage. As he looks back on an up-and-down season, Auger-Aliassime still believes in himself and likes his chances going forward.
“I will take my chance if I have it.” – Felix Auger-Aliassime
The six matches to come promise to showcase the best of men’s tennis. Each player will come with their own special kind of talent and game plan to take the court.
