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Sinner says it was a close and competitive match, but he served “very, very well” at the key moments, when he always tries to play his best stuff. He reckons both men changed tactics, hitting flat, and he’s happy with how he handled one of the best serves in the game. With 28 straight wins on indoor hard, he says he remembers more about the losses because you learn form them but he also enjoys the wins and it’s all about balance.
When Zverev was brave enough to attack, he at least gave Sinner something to think about about which to think. But you could almost feel his trepidation – in the second half of the match, there were occasions when it looked like he couldn’t be bothered, swiping at the ball without moving his feet. And of course he could be bothered – he works as hard as anyone – it was just a manifestation of his dwindling belief. He needs to do something drastic to resolve that.
Zverev, of course, can still go through – his match with Auger-Aliassime is now a straight knockout. And you know what? If he plays as he did tonight, that might be enough because he’s the better player. But there’s a massive difference in how the two men took on Sinner: Felix played like believed he could win, planting feet on the baseline and refusing to take a backward step, while Zverev was too tentative to come forward.
ShareJannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev 6-4 6-3 to qualify for the semi-finals of the ATP Finals
Sinner 6-4 6-3 Zverev* At 15-0, Sinner tries a drop and this time, Zverev reads it, flipping a backhand winner down the line in response. But he can do nothing about the serve out wide that follows, tidied with an overhead, then a leaping, punishing backhand is good enough for 40-15 and yet another service winner settles a match that wasn’t as close as the score suggests – though Sinner was forced to save seven break points.
Sinner 6-4 5-3 Zverev* Zverev powers through a hold to 15, forcing Sinner to serve for the match. I’m going to stick my neck out here and say I’m backing him to get it done.
Updated at 16.17 EST
*Sinner 6-4 5-2 Zverev That isn’t to say Zverev isn’t good enough to come back, he is, but nothing about his performance tonight – or about his performances over the past year – suggest he’s going to. But as I type, he makes 0-30, suddenly hitting it as aggressively as should be now there’s no pressure. And more excellence from the German follows, a backhand approach to the corner putting him ahead in the rally. As it happens, when he plays his volley, Sinner responds with a glorious backhand of his own, a winner down the line, but why has Zverev started to play now he’s a set and a break down? He does, though, make advantage, break point saved when a big first serve is returned into the net – that’s five this set which have amounted to the cube root of nowt – and an ace down the T follows. Sinner, though, can’t close out, so we return to deuce, whereupon a further service winner, and another, take the Italian to within a game of a victory that has never felt anything but inevitable.
Jannik Sinner smashes a server to Alexander Zverev. Photograph: Alessandro Di Marco/EPAShare
Updated at 16.28 EST
Sinner 6-4 4-2 Zverev* There’s a kerfuffle about an LED light on an advertising hoarding which is bothering Zverev, who blames it for a backhand he’s just missed; they turn it off and he splatters down serve then overhead for 15-all. But at 30-15 he’s caught at the net, Sinner hitting at the body then squeezing a pass down the line and, following another lazy forehand, he overhits, so must face break point. And, sent to the corner by a flat backhand, he’s not even in the picture when a gorgeously disguised overhand forehand drop pretty much settles the match.
*Sinner 6-4 3-2 Zverev This match is close, or seems close, because Zverev is a brilliant server; I doubt anyone in the world seriously doubts which way it’s going; it’s not like Alcaraz v Fritz or even Sinner v Auger-Aliassime. At 30-0, though, Zverev nails a brilliant forehand inside-out from corner to corner to remind us he’s still here, then a netted forehand gives him 30-all; by the standard, this is a chance. A chance that should be swiftly confiscated but ahead in the rally, Sinner tries a drop Zverev runs it down and puts away the volley to raise his fourth break point of the set. Of course, naturally, necessarily, an ace follows, Zverev looking skywards beseechingly, the handle of his racket slotted into his gaping mouth – he thinks it was a let. Thereafter, Sinner quickly makes advantage, and a framed return later, the hold is his.
Alexander Zverev reacts after facing a Sinner serve. Photograph: Marco Alpozzi/APShare
Updated at 16.19 EST
Sinner 6-4 2-2 Zverev* Zverev makes 15-0 confidently enough, but a tepid, almost lazy forehand hits the top of the net, inviting Sinner into the game. And he makes himself at home, a drop inciting a pick-up which drops long for 15-30, and these are important points coming up. The first goes to Zverev, just, a inside-out backhand landing just over the sideline, Sinner again looking to force the issue, but from there the Geran closes out, sealing the hold with an ace down the middle.
*Sinner 6-4 2-1 Zverev A barrage of forehands earns Zverev 0-15, then he settles a terrific rally by hitting well from the back, charging in to retrieve a drop and putting away a volley; this is much better. Oh, and when he lands a return close to the baseline, Sinner can’t respond; 0-40 and three break points, which is to say this might br the match right here. If Zverev can’t convert, it might deal his confidence a fatal blow, and a service winner followed by a netted return mean he’s only got one go left. So of course Sinner sends him out wide with a booming serve, then crushes a forehand into the opposite corner; deuce. Advantage is duly gained via leaping forehand and loopy volley, it’s obvious an ace is coming next and indeed it does. I’d not be at all surprised to see Sinner break next game, because this match is going just as Zverev will have feared it would.
Sinner 6-4 1-1 Zverev* Up 15-0, Zverev flaps a forehand into the net, but from there, he plays a decent pair of points, a backhand winner down the line – the shot of which we need to see more if he’s going to make this a proper contest – raise game point, quickly converted.
*Sinner 6-4 1-0 Zverev If Zverev didn’t believe he could win before, he really won’t now, all the more so when Sinner opens set two with an ace. Earlier, Tim noted that the German is coached by his dad and always has been, so perhaps he needs fresh ideas; what he’s doing simply isn’t working. Anyroad up, another ace makes 40-0, whereupon Zverev does what he should be doing, taking a backhand early and zetzing it cross-court for what feels like his first winner in some time; the score for the first set was 16-6 in favour of Sinner. Sinner, though, butchers a backhand wide … then at 40-30, he annihilates an ace into the corner to extinguish hope as soon as it ignites.
ShareJannik Sinner takes the first set against Alexander Zverev 6-4
Sinner 6-4 Zverev* Zverev goes long on the forehand, going for a big one, and the doubts will be pulling at his topknot; can he banish them? Er no: again, he overhits, this time a rally ball. A service winner down the T, as Sinner looks to cover out wide, halves the arrears, but refusing to take the next rally on gives the Italian time to change pace with a forehand cross-court that elicits a mishit; two set points. The first disappears with a forehand panelled long, the second with a serve/forehand one-two, and that’s good from Zverev, whose fragile confidence must’ve been teetering. A booming ace down the T then grabs him advantage, but coming in to finish game point, his approach picks out Sinner and his volley is weak, hitting the net. And again, Sinner hurls himself at the next rally while Zverev plants feet and plays safe then, up advantage, he powers to the backhand corner and rushes in to clean up, sealing the set in the process. I’m afraid the German just doesn’t have the head for this: he cannot win if he plays defensively, passively or reactively and yes, I’m aware those words, in context, sort of mean the same thing. But it’s a point that needs emphasising.
Jannik Sinner flings a forehand to Alexander Zverev. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane/ReutersShare
Updated at 16.05 EST
*Sinner 5-4 Zverev I don’t get why Zverev isn’t going for this; you can’t break Sinner waiting for errors, and again he’s unduly circumspect, effectively inciting the winner, which is duly disbursed. It’s soon 40-0, a drop seals the deal, and the scoreboard pressure mounts.
Updated at 15.21 EST
Sinner 4-4 Zverev* An ace down the T makes 30-0 and this set looks like it’ll need a breaker; as I type, the love hold is secured within seconds.
Updated at 15.19 EST
*Sinner 4-3 Zverev Sinner shows he can also clobber aces out wide, using won to make 30-0, then a table tennis forehand, his 12th winner of the match earns game point, seized with a backhand winner. After a dicky opening hold, he’s back to looking impregnable on serve.
Jannik Sinner stretches for a backhand return to Alexander Zverev. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane/ReutersShare
Updated at 15.17 EST
Sinner 3-3 Zverev* A mistake apiece makes 15-all, but Zverev, who made the second, was negative, hitting down the middle. And the smae happens again next point, Sinner sending him to the corner before patting away the putaway. But a backhand thwacked long levels us at 30-all, a service-winner follows – Zverev prefers swinging out wide, whereas Sinner likes the T – then an ace into the far corner.
*Sinner 3-2 Zverev The first drop of the match gives Sinner 15-0, and a forehand swatted on the half-turn from on the baseline is far too good. Zverev then swipes a backhand marginally long, but a terrific return, the length perfect, forces him into the game … before a netted return forces him out of it.
Sinner 2-2 Zverev* Sinner flings a backhand wide but, offered a short ball, next point, he comes in and Zverev’s attempted pass hits the net. An ace out wide, though, makes 30-15 and a framed forehand follows, then a big serve/plus one forehand combo-move seals the game.
Jannik Sinner fires off a return to Alexander Zverev. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane/ReutersShare
Updated at 15.15 EST
*Sinner 2-1 Zverev Zverev makes 0-15, but then nets a return; not something he can really afford to do, given the quantity of balls he won’t be able to get back – the next one, for example, and the one after, an ace; 40-15. And another quick point secures the hold, Sinner starting to settle.
Sinner 1-1 Zverev* At change of ends, Sinner tells the umpire he needs sawdust as his racket is slipping, and who’d be surprised if, after fighting through an eight-minute hold saving two break points, he gets it done here? Zverev begins with a service winner and follows up with an ace, but at 40-0, Sinner vaporises a forehand inside-out and into the corner. he then overhits one, though, so we’re level at 1-1 and so far, this is a good contest.
*Sinner 1-0 Zverev (*denotes server) At 15-all, we focus in on a small bald man who looks not unlike Moby; he’s taking photo with flash. Anyway, who w nts to hear my Moby anecdote? A friend of mine was in New York and got chatting to people in the club, one of whom said come back to mine. So he went, ans there are all these Moby gold discs on the wall. Wow, you must really like Moby, says my mate; “I am Moby,” says Moby. Meantime, Zverev puts together a decent point, set up with a backhand down the line; Sinner’s attempted pass falls long, but he responds with an ace; 30-all. Zverev, though, again deploys the backhand down the line, which helps him to 30-40 … and again, Sinner responds with a soul-crushing ace that makes deuce. Another, down the T like its predecessors, raises advantage, but a leaping backhand into the net restores parity. Already, you kind of feel like Zverev needs to break here, while the going’s good and to feel like there’s a way, and when Sinner overhits a forehand, he’s a second break point. Will he gamble on the serve down the middle? He doesn’t, and another ace, the fourth of the game, flies past him, and from there, the hold is secured.
Sinner to serve, ready … play.
Does Zverev believe he can win this? I’m not sure but leaning no; he must start well, because there’s not a chance he does it from behind.
Updated at 14.40 EST
It’s almost time … and out they come, the crowd going wild for Sinner. This arena is proper, steeply banked so it feels like everyone is on top of the action, and it makes a right racket.
Enter, Jannik Sinner. Photograph: Valerio Pennicino/Getty ImagesAnd Alexander Zverev. Photograph: Valerio Pennicino/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 14.52 EST
Sinner, by the way, has won 27 indoor hard-court matches in a row. The predictable bounce is perfect for the way he moves and hits and in Turin, the thinner air is also helpful, giving the ball even greater pace. Zverev, though, quite likes all of that too, so we’ll see.
Updated at 14.43 EST
Talking of Felix, how on earth could he go three hard sets just two days after limping through the second against Sinner? These lads are so fit it’s ridiculous, and I really hope he’s maturing into the best version of himself.
This tournament properly kicked into action yesterday, with two astoundingly good matches. If Zverev is at it tonight, we might well get more of the same tonight. We’l talk about it more tomorrow night, but you really have to feel for poor old Demon who, like Zverev – and Andrey Rublev – has had enough of his best not being good enough. Elite sport is haaaaard.
If Sinner wins tonight, he’s through and Shelton is out; Zverev would play Auger-Aliassime for the second spot. If Zverev wins in two, he goes through.
The effect playing Sinner can have on your mood, part II:
The effect playing Sinner can have on your mood, part I”
Sinner, meanwhile, will look to attack Zverev’s forehand. I’d expect to see him hit at it corner to corner, as well as with his backhand down the line, trying to keep the ball low over the net. He knows, though, he doesn’t exactly need a strategy: if he plays well, he wins
So how does Zverev make it happen? Well, he has to serve at close to his best, which feels eminently possible. And otherwise, he’ll want to target Sinner’s second delivery, as well as hitting his backhand hard and flat down the line, making Sinner hit forehands from the corner and on the run, with time taken away from him. It’s also worth noting that he’s improved his volleying, so he might come in behind some of those – and behind some of his serves – to keep his opponent guessing.
SharePreamble
Evening all and welcome to the ATP Tour Finals 2025 – day four!
Writing these preambles, it’s hard not to fall into a trap of detailing how and why the latest challenger could and might beat Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz, then saying, yeah, no chance, sorry. Well, here we are again.
And yet. And yet, and yet, and yet. In the opening round of matches, Felix Auger-Aliassime gave Sinner plenty until he got injured, just as yesterday, Taylor Fritz was better than Alcaraz for the best part of two sets. On the other hand and despite it all, the big two both won, comfortably in the end.
Alexander Zverev, though, is a different proposition … or is he? No one without a grand slam title has come closer to seizing one and, for several years, he seemed certain that he’d get there eventually. But then in the final of this year’s Australian Open, Sinner took him apart so surgically and mercilessly that it seemed to kill something inside him, and he’s been dealing with the PTSD ever since.
Until, perhaps, this week. On Sunday night, he played really well in seeing off Ben Shelton, celebrating with such fervour it felt possible that, in those moments, he healed. His serve and backhand remain two of the biggest and best shots in the game and though we can be sure his backhand and net-play will be tested this evening, for the first time since Melbourne, he might feel he has a chance.
Play: 8.30pm GMT, 7.30pm local