2024 ATP Finals Day 6: Alcaraz, Zverev Look To Join Sinner, Fritz In SFs

Two spots have been booked in the semifinals of the year-end ATP Finals event in Turin. On Thursday, home favorite Jannik Sinner and American Taylor Fritz both moved on to the Saturday final four.

Fritz scored the first 3-set win of the event rallying from a set down to defeat Alex de Minaur 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.

“It’s tough, because even though I won the match, I feel like there wasn’t necessarily any moment when I feel like I had a repeatable way to win from the baseline, to be honest,” said Fritz. “He was all over me. What I did a great job of was towards the end of the second set, I really started to find my serve. I was serving much better and that allowed me to just stay with it and create more pressure on his service games.”

Fritz then needed help from Sinner to stay alive. Sinner was on against Daniil Medvedev who could grab the semifinal berth with a straight set win over the Italian. But Sinner rolled past the Russian 6-3, 6-4.

“I’m trying to find new ways to improve as a player,” Sinner told the ATP. “I’m trying to win as many matches here as I can. Me and Daniil, we know each other very well. So, every time we step on court, we try to change something tactically. I felt like I was ready to see what he was going to do today.

“I know what I have achieved during this year, so I try to step on court with a good mindset. I have beautiful people around me who support me daily, which for me is really important. I try to enjoy my time on the court. The atmosphere here is amazing, so I’m just trying to play some good tennis this week. Let’s see what’s coming in the next round.”

Sinner had once lost to Medvedev six straight times. He now leads 8-7 having won eight of their last nine!

“Jannik plays good. He’s in full confidence right now,” Medvedev said. “I watched his practice before the match. He barely misses a shot and he hits strong. Many times, a lot of players that don’t miss a lot, at least they don’t hit strong. He can hit strong, very strong, probably one of maybe top three, four, five hitters on Tour, and doesn’t miss.

“It is tough to play him. He puts you under pressure. You have to deal with it. In a way I didn’t deal with it well enough. I missed some shots in some important moments. He won the match. Basically, kind of easy as that.”

Tomorrow, the round robin wraps up with a big showdown between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. The two have split their 10 meetings but the Spaniard has won the last two.

“I want to develop my game further so I can compete with Jannik and Carlos,” Zverev said of his goals. “As simple as that. They’re the two benchmarks right now. They’re the ones that are winning Grand Slams. I want to be part of that group.

“I know they’re going to improve, so I have to keep up.”

Casper Ruud, who beat Alcaraz on Monday, is in the hunt. If he beats Andrey Rublev and Zverev beats Alcaraz, then Alcaraz is out.

If Alcaraz and Ruud both win in straights, then it’s a game won % tiebreaker among Alcaraz, Ruud, and Zverev.

The only certainty, if Zverev wins, he’s in.

FRIDAY ATP FINALS TURIN SCHEDULE
CENTRE COURT start 11:30 am
[8] Kevin Krawietz (GER) / Tim Puetz (GER) vs [6] Rohan Bopanna (IND) / Matthew Ebden (AUS)

Not Before 2:00 pm
[2] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs [3] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)

Not Before 6:00 pm
[4] Simone Bolelli (ITA) / Andrea Vavassori (ITA) vs [1] Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) / Mate Pavic (CRO)

Not Before 8:30 pm
[6] Casper Ruud (NOR) vs 8] Andrey Rublev