Sinner Aims for ATP Finals Title After Dominant and Controversial Season

Jannik Sinner has accumulated 10,330 points on the ATP Tour this year, exceeding his closest competitor Alexander Zverev by over 3,000 points. The enthusiastic reception for Jannik Sinner upon his arrival at the ATP Finals highlights the eventful nature of his season. The Italian world number one, who was surrounded by local fans and photographers in Turin earlier this week, has been the leading player in men’s tennis this year, while also being a central figure in an ongoing doping controversy. Sinner is competing on his home ground, seeking to conclude a successful season with his inaugural victory at the year-end Finals, an event featuring eight singles players and eight doubles teams. The champion of both the Australian and US Opens has been drawn into a group with Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, American Taylor Fritz, and Australian newcomer Alex de Minaur. Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who secured titles at the French Open and Wimbledon this year, will compete against Germany’s Alexander Zverev, Norway’s Casper Ruud, and Russia’s Andrey Rublev. Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, despite qualifying as the sixth-best player, withdrew from the tournament, which he has won a record seven times. In the doubles competition, Britain’s Henry Patten is making his debut. The 28-year-old partnered with Finland’s Harri Heliovaara in April, achieving a Wimbledon title and finishing the season as the seventh-best team. The eight-day tournament commences on Sunday and will conclude with the final on 17 November. Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Alex de Minaur are set to compete in the Ilie Nastase Group. Jannik Sinner, 23, Italy Seed: 1 Best ATP Finals performance: Runner-up (2023) 2024 titles: 7 (Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle, Cincinnati, US Open, Shanghai) 2024 win-loss: 65-6 Sinner, known for his modest demeanor despite his powerful hitting, claimed his first major title in Melbourne, having lost only once before April. In August, surprising news emerged that he had failed two doping tests; however, he was permitted to continue playing after an independent panel determined there was “no fault or negligence” on his part. He subsequently won the US Open and has suffered only one defeat in his last 23 matches. Daniil Medvedev, 28, Russia Seed: 4 Best ATP Finals performance: Winner (2020) 2024 titles: 0 2024 win-loss: 45-19 Although not his strongest season, Medvedev consistently contends for major honors. He was a finalist at the Australian Open, reached the Wimbledon semi-finals, and the US Open quarter-finals. His consistent performance, despite not winning a title this year, was sufficient to qualify for the Finals for the sixth consecutive season. Taylor Fritz, 27, United States Seed: 5 Best ATP Finals performance: Semi-finals (2022) 2024 titles: 2 (Delray Beach, Eastbourne) 2024 win-loss: 49-21 A notable aspect of Fritz’s season has been his high level of play across all court surfaces. He has participated in ATP finals on hard, grass, and clay courts, including his first Grand Slam final at the US Open. Alex de Minaur, 25, Australia Seed: 7 Best ATP Finals performance: Debut 2024 titles: 2 (Acapulco, ‘s-Hertogenbosch) 2024 win-loss: 47-16 De Minaur’s commitment to his game has yielded increased success this year. Two tour titles, coupled with three consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearances at the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, have resulted in his first year-end top-10 ranking. Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud, and Andrey Rublev will compete in the John Newcombe Group. Alexander Zverev, 27, Germany Seed: 2 Best ATP Finals performance: Champion (2018, 2021) 2024 titles: 2 (Rome, Paris) 2024 win-loss: 66-20 Zverev is, alongside Djokovic, the only active multiple ATP Finals champion. A third tournament victory would positively conclude another year without an elusive Grand Slam title. His closest attempt was reaching the French Open final, which occurred while a court case concerning domestic violence allegations, now discontinued, was pending. Carlos Alcaraz, 21, Spain Seed: 3 Best ATP Finals performance: Semi-finals (2023) 2024 titles: 4 (Indian Wells, French Open, Wimbledon, Beijing) 2024 win-loss: 52-11 At this time last year, Alcaraz experienced burnout. The physical and mental strain of a prolonged season affected him, though he still reached the semi-finals at the Finals. This year has seen him claim two Grand Slam titles and two Masters victories, and he hopes that more strategic scheduling will lead to another significant title. Casper Ruud, 25, Norway Seed: 6 Best ATP Finals performance: Runner-up (2022) 2024 titles: 2 (Barcelona, Geneva) 2024 win-loss: 49-22 After failing to qualify last year, Ruud’s return is attributed to a strong start to the season. A successful clay-court swing resulted in titles in Barcelona and Geneva, as well as a run to the Roland Garros semi-finals. A debilitating illness caused difficulties in the latter half of the year, but he secured his place following Djokovic’s withdrawal. Andrey Rublev, 27, Russia Seed: 8 2024 titles: 2 (Hong Kong, Madrid) 2024 win-loss: 42-23 Similar to De Minaur and Ruud, Rublev’s potential challenge of a three-way contest for the final two spots was eliminated by Djokovic’s decision. Winning the Masters title in Madrid stands out as the highlight of a season marked by visible expressions of frustration. The Finals are contested by the eight singles players and eight doubles teams who have accumulated the most ranking points throughout the season. Qualifiers are seeded according to their accrued points and subsequently drawn into two groups. A round-robin format determines which players advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for Saturday, 16 November. The winners will compete in the finals on Sunday, 17 November. During the group stage, there are daily afternoon and evening sessions, each featuring one doubles match followed by one singles match. Play commences at 10:30 GMT in the daytime and 17:00 GMT in the evening, with daily reports available on the BBC Sport website and app.