Italian sensation Jannik Sinner is set to face Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in a round-robin encounter on Sunday. With Sinner being the sole Italian representative at the home ATP Finals, the Turin crowd is expected to rally behind their favorite as he aims for glory against the seasoned Tsitsipas.
Sinner, ranked fourth in the world, is returning to the year-end championships for the second time after his debut in 2021. The 22-year-old has had a standout 2023 season, reaching his first Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon and securing his maiden Masters title at the Canadian Open. With two ATP 500 crowns in October, Sinner is poised to become the first Italian in the Open Era to win 60 top-level matches in a single season.
On the other hand, Tsitsipas, the sixth seed, seeks to avoid a fourth successive round-robin exit from the year-end finals. The Greek player claimed ATP Finals glory in 2019 but has faced early exits in the subsequent editions. Despite a slightly less stellar 2023 season compared to Sinner, the Greek player boasts impressive statistics, including a 89.7% service games won on hard courts, second only to Djokovic.
The head-to-head record between Sinner and Tsitsipas stands at seven meetings, with Tsitsipas holding the advantage with five victories. However, Sinner secured a recent straight-set win at the Rotterdam Open in February, ending a four-match losing streak against the Greek national.
Prediction: In what promises to be a thrilling encounter, Sinner’s recent form and home-court advantage may give him the edge. However, Tsitsipas’ experience and exceptional service game could lead to a closely contested match, with Sinner prevailing in three sets.