Sinner's Dominant Run Continues in Turin
Italian tennis sensation Jannik Sinner delivered a commanding performance on Friday, securing a flawless group stage at the ATP Finals in Turin with a straight-sets victory over American Ben Shelton. The world number two triumphed 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) in one hour and thirty-five minutes of intense play, maintaining his impressive form despite the recent news that Carlos Alcaraz secured the year-end world number one ranking for 2025.
Match Analysis: Power and Precision
From the opening serve, Sinner established control over the match, breaking Shelton's serve early in the first set. The Italian showcased his formidable power throughout the contest, particularly with his second serves that reached blistering speeds of 190 kilometres per hour (118 miles per hour). The home crowd at the Inalpi Arena erupted with loud chants of their local hero's name, creating an electric atmosphere that fueled Sinner's dominant display.
Despite facing pressure in the second set, Sinner maintained his composure to force a tie-break, which he comfortably won 7-3. This victory marks Sinner's third consecutive win in the tournament without dropping a single set, a remarkable achievement since his defeat to Novak Djokovic in the 2023 final.
Road to the Semi-Finals
Speaking on court after his victory, Sinner expressed his satisfaction with the performance. "Obviously I'm really happy to be in the semi-finals, to play tomorrow with good energy levels, let's see how we go," said the 24-year-old. "We're trying to do the right things and thankfully they're coming off. Tomorrow is a big match, let's try to go as far as we can in the tournament."
Sinner will face Australia's Alex de Minaur in Saturday's first semi-final match. Meanwhile, the tournament's remaining semi-final spot will be determined later on Friday, with Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime competing to finish second behind Sinner in the group. The winner will advance to face Carlos Alcaraz.
Season Reflections and Future Prospects
For Ben Shelton, the defeat concluded a challenging debut at the ATP Finals. The world number five finished his campaign without securing a victory in his three matches in the Bjorn Borg Group. "Tough to finish out the season like this, 0-3 at the Finals. For me obviously a great year. A lot of positives," Shelton told reporters. "This will just make me work harder in the off-season, make me even more excited for the 2026 season. But yeah, it stings, for sure."
The head-to-head record between Alcaraz and Sinner this season stands at four wins for Alcaraz in five meetings, all occurring in finals of top-level tournaments, including two Grand Slams. Sinner's sole victory over Alcaraz came at Wimbledon, while he suffered a notable defeat in the French Open final in June after surrendering a two-set lead.
Before Friday's match, Carlos Alcaraz received the award for securing the year-end world number one ranking for 2025, having confirmed his top position by defeating Lorenzo Musetti on Thursday night.
