Turin SF Preview: Sinner vs. Ruud, Zverev vs. Fritz | ATP Tour

Match Preview

Turin SF Preview: Sinner vs. Ruud, Zverev vs. Fritz

Sinner, Zverev posted excellent 3-0 data in group stage

November 15, 2024

After six days of elite group-stage motion on the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals, Saturday begins the knockout rounds in Turin.

Dwelling favorite Jannik Sinner, the No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings, will search to proceed his excellent week when he takes on Casper Ruud within the Inalpi Area. World No. 2 Alexander Zverev, who additionally posted a 3-0 round-robin file, will meet Taylor Fritz.

In doubles motion, Aussies Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson tackle Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz earlier than high seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic play Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.

[1] Jannik Sinner (ITA) vs. [6] Casper Ruud (NOR)
Enjoying on residence soil for the primary time this 12 months — and for the primary time as World No. 1 — Sinner has soared into the semis with out dropping a set. The Italian has not misplaced greater than 4 video games in a single body and was damaged simply twice on 4 break probabilities mixed in opposition to De Minaur, Fritz and Medvedev.

“The ambiance right here is superb, so I’m simply attempting to play some good tennis this week,” Sinner mentioned after finishing his undefeated group-stage marketing campaign.

His excellent begin on the Inalpi Area’s indoor arduous court docket continues an excellent season highlighted by a tour-leading seven titles. Six of these trophies have come on arduous courts, together with his first two Grand Slam titles (Australian Open, US Open) and three ATP Masters 1000s crowns (Miami, Cincinnati, Shanghai).

“I do know what I’ve achieved throughout this 12 months, so I attempt to step on court docket with an excellent mindset,” he mentioned of his continued success. “I’ve lovely individuals round me who help me day by day, which for me is de facto vital. I attempt to get pleasure from my time on the court docket.”

 

Ruud, whose two 2024 titles got here on the clay of Barcelona and Geneva, has the unenviable process of attempting to gradual Sinner’s roll on the pavement. He has but to take a set off the Italian in two earlier Lexus ATP Head2Head conferences. Each of these matchups got here on indoor arduous courts in Vienna, nevertheless it’s been greater than three years since their final encounter.

The Norwegian may haven’t any higher preparation for the World No. 1 than the gauntlet he confronted to achieve the semis. After beating Alcaraz, the No. 3 man within the PIF ATP Rankings, Ruud allowed only one break level in a good defeat to World No. 2 Zverev. Figuring out he wanted to win a set in opposition to Andrey Rublev to safe his semi-final place, he went one higher and gained the match to wrap his group marketing campaign at 2-1.

The duty will solely get more durable on Saturday, when he must deal with each a red-hot Sinner and the Italian crowd.

“He’s one of the best participant on the planet all 12 months and is taking part in at residence and has not dropped a set all week,” Ruud mentioned. “He’s the participant to beat this 12 months and I’m going to do my greatest. It looks like this man virtually forgot how you can lose. I’ll see if I can give you one thing to problem right here. I can be ready for in all probability the hardest match of the 12 months.”

Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz” type=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/photographs/information/2024/11/15/18/05/zverev-fritz-turin-2024-sf-h2h.jpg”>

[2] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. [5] Taylor Fritz (USA)
Zverev and Fritz have been among the many busiest gamers on the ATP Tour this season. They’re two of simply 5 males with greater than 50 match wins on the 12 months, becoming a member of fellow Turin rivals Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Ruud.

With the Nitto ATP Finals title on the road, each males may have a lot extra within the tank.

“I believe lots of us are fairly beat up,” Fritz mentioned after his three-set win in opposition to Alex de Minaur on Thursday. “But when I’m within the semis of the [Nitto ATP Finals], I’ve obtained power to present.”

Their semi-final assembly can be Zverev’s ninetieth match of 2024 (69-20) and Fritz’s 74th (51-22). It would even be their fifth Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly of 2024.

“I’m proud of being 3-0 within the group for positive, however I believe now the semi-final goes to be very troublesome,” mentioned Zverev, who trails Fritz 5-6 of their rivalry. “[Taylor] beat me the previous few instances on the Slams, so I’m trying ahead to that match.”

 

Zverev defeated the American this 12 months within the Rome quarter-finals, however Fritz prevailed at Wimbledon in 5 units, on the US Open in 4 and at Laver Cup in two. Fritz’s three-match successful streak in opposition to Zverev marks the primary time both man has crushed the opposite 3 times in a row. However the German’s kind — and his standing as year-end No. 2 within the PIF ATP Rankings — makes him the slight favorite in Turin.

Fritz practically pulled off the upset in opposition to Sinner within the round-robin stage, giving the house favorite all he may deal with in two tight units earlier than being damaged within the ultimate recreation of every. He then dropped the opening set in opposition to Alex de Minaur earlier than discovering his serve to show that match round and, finally, seal his semi-final place.

On this Saturday showdown, each males will look to make use of their massive serves to set the tone. The best method is a straightforward one: dominate service video games and pile on the strain when returning. However nothing is easy on the Nitto ATP Finals.

Doubles SFs
Thursday’s outcomes meant Arevalo and Pavic clinched 12 months-Finish ATP Doubles No. 1 introduced by PIF honours as a workforce for the primary time. On Friday, the Turin high seeds beat residence favourites Bolelli and Vavassori to seal their place within the semi-finals.

The Salvadoran/Croatian pair will hope to proceed their optimistic streak in opposition to the in-form workforce of the event, Heliovaara and Patten. Exceeding their billing as seventh seeds, the British/Finnish workforce was the lone doubles duo to submit a 3-0 group file this week.

The alternative semi-final will see two pairs of countrymen sq. off as fifth-seeded Aussies Purcell and Thompson tackle eighth-seeded Germans Krawietz and Puetz. Each groups completed round-robin play at 2-1. The Aussies completed second within the Mike Bryan Group whereas the Germans topped the Bob Bryan group due to their 5-2 set file.