In Turin, Jannik Sinner Defeats Stefanos Tsitsipas in Straight Sets to Open the ATP Finals
World number four Jannik Sinner from Italy defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in straight sets, 6-4, in the opening match of the ATP Finals in Turin. The season’s top eight players gathered for the prestigious event, which began with a strong showing from the young Italian on home soil.
Returning to the Alpitour arena for the second time, Sinner was warmly received by the local crowd. Once again, he stood as a symbol of Italian tennis hope, energizing the event as a crowd-pleasing figure who carried the city’s excitement through the tournament. The 22-year-old showcased his talent despite having qualified for the year-end event for the first time as a substitute, a moment many fans had anticipated with pride and optimism. This victory helped advance Sinner in a season where he collected 57 wins against 14 losses and secured four titles, including a Masters 1000 triumph in Toronto back in 2014.
Tsitsipas, who carried confidence after a strong run, opened the match with the first break, signaling his intent and suggesting a potential shift in momentum. The Greek ace, working through a back issue that limited his training time in the days leading up to the duel, nevertheless delivered a determined performance in Sinner’s service games. He won the first game by holding serve and then forced Sinner to respond, taking a 3-2 lead and shaping the initial frame in his favor. Yet the Italian fought back with a blend of precision and aggression, and the set swung in favor of Sinner with a 6-4 finish on the back of consistent returns and timely winners.
The Turin crowd watched as Tsitsipas, who had previously reached the semifinals in Antwerp, Vienna, and Paris, looked unsettled on the court. His game plan, built around a powerful serve and aggressive baseline play, faced a different challenge from Sinner, who controlled the rally with more consistency and timing. The atmosphere in the Green Group, which also features Novak Djokovic and Holger Rune, suggested the event would deliver many twists as it unfolded toward the champion’s crowning week.
Tsitsipas started the second set with renewed effort, but Sinner’s accuracy and pace continued to press hard, breaking early and moving ahead 3-0 with authority. A composed display followed, featuring a powerful return game and a decisive sequence of points that left Tsitsipas facing an uphill climb. Even though Tsitsipas fought to steady the ship and rebound, Sinner remained composed, closing pivotal points and maintaining control of the rally to push the lead beyond reach.
As the set progressed, Tsitsipas found it difficult to mount a sustained comeback. The Greek remained competitive, yet Sinner’s ability to mix depth, pace, and precision prevented the comeback from developing. A late lob—nudging the ball just over the line—proved a highlight for Sinner and underscored his capacity to finish points decisively. With a closing surge and another clean serve, the Italian sealed the match and confirmed his status as a rising force in the tournament’s opening night.
The victory, achieved in straight sets, underscored Sinner’s early dominance in a format where every set counts and momentum can define the fixture’s tone. From the start of the match, the Italian appeared unchallenged by the moment, delivering a performance that resonated with the home crowd and signaled strong form heading into the rest of the Finals. Tonight, Djokovic is slated to face Rune in the subsequent showdown, a matchup that will continue to shape the narrative of this year-end event.