Turin SF Preview: Sinner vs. Ruud, Zverev vs. Fritz | ATP Tour

Match Preview

Turin SF Preview: Sinner vs. Ruud, Zverev vs. Fritz

Sinner, Zverev posted excellent 3-0 information in group stage

November 15, 2024

After six days of elite group-stage motion on the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals, Saturday begins the knockout rounds in Turin.

Residence favorite Jannik Sinner, the No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings, will search to proceed his excellent week when he takes on Casper Ruud within the Inalpi Area. World No. 2 Alexander Zverev, who additionally posted a 3-0 round-robin document, will meet Taylor Fritz.

In doubles motion, Aussies Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson tackle Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz earlier than high seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic play Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.

[1] Jannik Sinner (ITA) vs. [6] Casper Ruud (NOR)Taking part in on residence soil for the primary time this 12 months — and for the primary time as World No. 1 — Sinner has soared into the semis with out dropping a set. The Italian has not misplaced greater than 4 video games in a single body and was damaged simply twice on 4 break probabilities mixed in opposition to De Minaur, Fritz and Medvedev.

“The environment right here is wonderful, so I’m simply making an attempt to play some good tennis this week,” Sinner stated after finishing his undefeated group-stage marketing campaign.

His excellent begin on the Inalpi Area’s indoor onerous court docket continues a superb season highlighted by a tour-leading seven titles. Six of these trophies have come on onerous courts, together with his first two Grand Slam titles (Australian Open, US Open) and three ATP Masters 1000s crowns (Miami, Cincinnati, Shanghai).

“I do know what I’ve achieved throughout this 12 months, so I attempt to step on court docket with an excellent mindset,” he stated of his continued success. “I’ve lovely folks round me who assist me every day, which for me is actually necessary. I attempt to take pleasure in my time on the court docket.”

Ruud, whose two 2024 titles got here on the clay of Barcelona and Geneva, has the unenviable process of making an attempt to gradual Sinner’s roll on the pavement. He has but to take a set off the Italian in two earlier Lexus ATP Head2Head conferences. Each of these matchups got here on indoor onerous courts in Vienna, but it surely’s been greater than three years since their final encounter.

The Norwegian might don’t have any higher preparation for the World No. 1 than the gauntlet he confronted to achieve the semis. After beating Alcaraz, the No. 3 man within the PIF ATP Rankings, Ruud allowed only one break level in a decent defeat to World No. 2 Zverev. Realizing he wanted to win a set in opposition to Andrey Rublev to safe his semi-final place, he went one higher and gained the match to wrap his group marketing campaign at 2-1.

The duty will solely get more durable on Saturday, when he should deal with each a red-hot Sinner and the Italian crowd.

“He’s the perfect participant on the planet all 12 months and is taking part in at residence and has not dropped a set all week,” Ruud stated. “He’s the participant to beat this 12 months and I’m going to do my finest. It looks as if this man nearly forgot how you can lose. I’ll see if I can give you one thing to problem right here. I shall be ready for most likely the hardest match of the 12 months.”

Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz” model=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/photos/information/2024/11/15/18/05/zverev-fritz-turin-2024-sf-h2h.jpg”>

[2] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. [5] Taylor Fritz (USA) Zverev and Fritz have been among the many busiest gamers on the ATP Tour this season. They’re two of simply 5 males with greater than 50 match wins on the 12 months, becoming a member of fellow Turin rivals Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Ruud.

With the Nitto ATP Finals title on the road, each males may have lots extra within the tank.

“I believe a variety of us are fairly beat up,” Fritz stated after his three-set win in opposition to Alex de Minaur on Thursday. “But when I’m within the semis of the [Nitto ATP Finals], I’ve obtained power to provide.”

Their semi-final assembly shall be Zverev’s ninetieth match of 2024 (69-20) and Fritz’s 74th (51-22). It’s going to even be their fifth Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly of 2024.

“I’m proud of being 3-0 within the group for certain, however I believe now the semi-final goes to be very troublesome,” stated Zverev, who trails Fritz 5-6 of their rivalry. “[Taylor] beat me the previous few occasions on the Slams, so I’m wanting ahead to that match.”

Zverev defeated the American this 12 months within the Rome quarter-finals, however Fritz prevailed at Wimbledon in 5 units, on the US Open in 4 and at Laver Cup in two. Fritz’s three-match successful streak in opposition to Zverev marks the primary time both man has overwhelmed the opposite 3 times in a row. However the German’s kind — and his standing as year-end No. 2 within the PIF ATP Rankings — makes him the slight favorite in Turin.

Fritz almost pulled off the upset in opposition to Sinner within the round-robin stage, giving the house favorite all he might deal with in two tight units earlier than being damaged within the remaining sport of every. He then dropped the opening set in opposition to Alex de Minaur earlier than discovering his serve to show that match round and, finally, seal his semi-final place.

On this Saturday showdown, each males will look to make use of their large serves to set the tone. The perfect system is a straightforward one: dominate service video games and pile on the strain when returning. However nothing is straightforward on the Nitto ATP Finals.

Doubles SFsThursday’s outcomes meant Arevalo and Pavic clinched 12 months-Finish ATP Doubles No. 1 introduced by PIF honours as a staff for the primary time. On Friday, the Turin high seeds beat residence favourites Bolelli and Vavassori to seal their place within the semi-finals.

The Salvadoran/Croatian pair will hope to proceed their constructive streak in opposition to the in-form staff of the match, Heliovaara and Patten. Exceeding their billing as seventh seeds, the British/Finnish staff was the lone doubles duo to publish a 3-0 group document this week.

The other semi-final will see two pairs of countrymen sq. off as fifth-seeded Aussies Purcell and Thompson tackle eighth-seeded Germans Krawietz and Puetz. Each groups completed round-robin play at 2-1. The Aussies completed second within the Mike Bryan Group whereas the Germans topped the Bob Bryan group due to their 5-2 set document.