At the end of the season tournament in Turin, Jannik Sinner is even more in focus after Novak Djokovic’s forfeit.
Legend: The Italian fans are hoping for him Jannik Sinner is handing out signatures in Turin. Keystone/EPA/ANSA/Alessandro di Marco
For the first time in 23 years, none of the “Big 3” are taking part in the season-ending tournament. After the retirements of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, it was Novak Djokovic who represented the “old guard” at the ATP Finals. After the injury-related forfeit, a new era begins. The tournament in Turin starts on Sunday. Here you can find the most important information:
The great absentee
Last year, Djokovic won his seventh title at the ATP Finals, making him the sole record winner ahead of Federer. This time the 37-year-old Serb is missing. This means that for the first time since 2001 – the champion was then called Lleyton Hewitt in Sydney – a season finale will take place without a player from the Federer/Djokovic/Rafael Nadal trio. This year, Djokovic did not win a title on the ATP tour for the first time since his first tournament victory in 2006, but he fulfilled his big dream with Olympic gold in Paris.
Local hero and high flyer
In last year’s final, Djokovic prevailed against Jannik Sinner. This was followed by a changing of the guard in this regard. Since then, the 23-year-old Italian has won all four duels with Djokovic, including in the Davis Cup final, in the semi-finals of the Australian Open and most recently in the final of the ATP 1000 tournament in Shanghai.
Sinner missed Paris-Bercy last week due to a virus infection, but the two-time Grand Slam champion was the outstanding player on the hard court this year and is therefore the top favorite with the home advantage behind him. He is sure to be number 1 at the end of the year. This is all the more astonishing given that… In the upcoming hearing before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) about a possible doping ban lasting several years, the real sword of Damocles is hanging over the South Tyrolean.
The finals specialist
Alexander Zverev underlined his brilliant form with the victory in Paris-Bercy, is now in second place in the world rankings and will not face Sinner in the group games. The 27-year-old from Hamburg is a real specialist for the ATP Finals. While he is still chasing his first Grand Slam title, he has already won the previous Masters twice, in London in 2018 and at the premiere in Turin two years ago. In his preliminary group is Carlos Alcaraz, who alongside Sinner won the other two Grand Slam tournaments. As has usually been the case in recent years, the Spaniard is weakening at the end of a strenuous season.
The group division
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Gruppe Ilie Nastase: Jannik Sinner (ATP 1), Daniil Medwedew (ATP 4), Taylor Fritz (ATP 5), Alex de Minaur (ATP 8)
John Newcombe Group: Alexander Zverev (ATP 2), Carlos Alcaraz (ATP 3), Casper Ruud (ATP 6), Andrej Rublew (ATP 9)
Rookie and “oldie”
The only newcomer is Alex de Minaur, the first Australian to take part in the ATP Finals since Hewitt 20 years ago. The oldest is Daniil Medvedev, 28, who, along with Zverev, is the only one to have won the tournament (2020). The field is completed by the American Taylor Fritz, the Norwegian Casper Ruud and the Russian Andrej Rublew, who slipped thanks to Djokovic’s cancellation.
Lavish prize money
As usual, the ATP’s flagship tournament is lavishly endowed. An undefeated winner collects a good $4.88 million, the entry fee is $331,000, and there is an additional $396,500 for each victory in the preliminary round. Even the two substitutes, Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas, will be compensated $155,000 for watching and standing by.
2024-11-08 10:25:00