ATP Finals: Jannik Sinner channelling home support in Turin

Jannik Sinner is riding a wave of home support at the ATP Finals as he prepares to try to go one step further than last year and win his maiden title in Turin next week.

The Italian fell in the final of the year-end event in 2023, courtesy of an inspired performance by Novak Djokovic.

A year later, he arrives in Turin with a Tour-leading seven titles this season and huge levels of support from the Italian public ahead of the first day’s action on Sunday at Palasport Olimpico.

“The atmosphere is just amazing,” Sinner said this week.

“Many things make this tournament special.

“First of all, being an Italian and playing in Italy.

“I haven’t played in Italy this year, because I missed Rome.

“That was a really tough one, but I am even more excited and happy to be here.

“It’s very different to other tournaments because you can lose and still win the tournament, so there are different scenarios.

“I’m just happy to be back here and hopefully I can show some good tennis.”

Tennis bookmakers have the 23-year-old as a +125 favourite to win the event, with his odds shortening following news of a favourable draw.

Sinner avoids both Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev in the group stage of the tournament, drawn alongside Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz instead.

De Minaur, who is making his ATP Finals debut this year after cracking the world’s top 10 earlier in the season, has an excellent chance of making it through to the last four in Turin.

While he holds a 0-7 head-to-head against Sinner, the Australian has defeated both Fritz and Medvedev in his most recent meetings against the two this year.

Nonetheless, he knows how important it is to begin competitively against Sinner, with the pair due to play first on Sunday.

“It is not rocket science but you have to be ready from the word go,” he said of his clash against Sinner.

“It doesn’t get any harder than starting against Jannik.

“From the very start, I need to be ready, I need to compete.

“It is going to be a great experience. A great challenge.

“But this is where I have wanted to be all these years.”

Outright betting odds with Bovada have de Minaur as a long-shot to win the title, with the 26-year-old sitting at a +2000 quote.

Sinner (+125) and Alcaraz (+200) lead the betting, while Zverev (+650), Medvedev (+900) and Fritz (+1600) are also ahead of de Minaur.

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