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Jannik Sinner beat Felix Auger-Aliassime at the ATP Finals in Turin, while Taylor Fritz defeated Lorenzo Musetti.
Jannik Sinner notched his 27th consecutive victory on indoor hard courts. (AP Photo)
Italy’s Jannik Sinner began his title defence with a commanding straight sets victory over an injured Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada at the ATP Finals in Turin on Monday. Just nine days after their Paris Masters final clash, Sinner once again emerged the stronger, clinching the match 7-5, 6-1. Fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti, however, suffered a 6-3, 6-4 defeat against American Taylor Fritz.
Sinner’s match started closely, but he surged ahead in the second set, breaking Auger-Aliassime’s serve and quickly establishing a 3-0 lead. Another break allowed Sinner to seal the match with an ace after one hour and forty-one minutes.
“Winning the first match is crucial in this format,” said 24-year-old Sinner. “It was very tough until 6-5. I had some chances to break, but he served very well. He played aggressive tennis, so I’m pleased to have overcome this challenge. I hope his injury isn’t serious and wish him a speedy recovery.”
Sinner’s victory marked his 27th consecutive win on indoor hard courts, positioning him at the top of the Bjorn Borg Group. He will also face Germany’s Alexander Zverev and American Ben Shelton. Sinner, from South Tyrol in northeastern Italy, won the 2024 tournament without dropping a set and aims to finish this season as world number one, currently held by Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.
Earlier, Fritz opened his ATP Finals campaign with a convincing win over Musetti. The 28-year-old American, who finished runner-up to Sinner last year, quickly took control of the Jimmy Connors group match, securing an early break to win the first set.
The crowd tried to lift Musetti, who joined the Finals late after Novak Djokovic withdrew due to injury. Fritz dominated, winning 84 percent of his first serves and saving all four break points he faced. He broke Musetti to lead 3-1 and maintained his serve to win the match.
“I’m really happy. I did a lot of things well,” Fritz remarked. “I served well under pressure and saved break points early on. I played a solid second set and had numerous chances to break. I’m pleased I managed to serve it out.”
Fritz, who qualified sixth, is aiming for the title after last year’s runner-up finish. “I enjoy the conditions here and find it easy to get motivated,” he said. “It’s the last tournament of the year and the ATP Finals, so it’s a big deal.”
Both players return to the court on Tuesday. Fritz will face Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Alex de Minaur on Sunday, while Musetti will play the Australian.
With AFP Inputs
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital…Read More
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital… Read More
November 11, 2025, 08:03 IST
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