In a stunning upset at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, 22-year-old Italian sensation Jannik Sinner halted Novak Djokovic’s impressive 19-match unbeaten run on Tuesday. Sinner, ranked No. 4 in the world, secured a group match victory with a scoreline of 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-2), marking his first career win against the 24-time grand slam singles champion.
The home crowd fervently cheered on Sinner as he displayed remarkable skill and composure throughout the match. Reflecting on his performance, the young Italian stated, “That was a really high-level match. I think I was really brave and intelligent in important moments, especially the third set. I felt like we were both serving really well, so there were not so many exchanges, but when the exchanges were played, we both played really well.”
Sinner represents a new generation of tennis players poised to challenge established stars like Djokovic, who is 14 years his senior. The match showcased moments when Djokovic, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, could only applaud his opponent’s exceptional play.
Sinner’s powerful groundstrokes consistently troubled Djokovic, who found himself battling to stay competitive. Even when Djokovic applied pressure, Sinner elevated his game, closing the match with an overhead smash during the final set tie-break.
Following the match, Djokovic acknowledged Sinner’s courageous and aggressive play, stating, “He deserved to win because, in important moments, I wasn’t aggressive enough, I wasn’t decisive enough. I gave him the opportunity to take control over the points. You have to just congratulate him. He just played a fantastic match.”
While Sinner secured his second win at this year’s ATP Finals, he has yet to secure qualification for the semifinals. His next match against Denmark’s Holger Rune will determine his fate in the group stage.
Djokovic, on the other hand, faces Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in a crucial match to ensure progression from the group. The ATP Finals feature the top eight-ranked men competing for the end-of-season championship, with players divided into two round-robin groups. The winners and runners-up from each group advance to the semifinals.
As the reigning champion, Djokovic aims to defend his title after defeating Rune in the 2022 final. The 36-year-old Serbian has an impressive record, claiming six ATP Finals titles during his illustrious career, including four consecutive victories from 2012 to 2015.
