TURIN: World number one Jannik Sinner said the ATP Finals will be more special for him this time around as it gives him the chance to play on home soil in Italy, months after missing this year’s Italian Open in Rome due to a hip injury.

The ATP Finals, which feature the world’s best eight singles players and doubles teams, are being staged at the Inalpi Arena in Turin from Nov 10-17.

“Many things make [this tournament] special,” Sinner told ATP Media on Thursday. “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.

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

Sinner will begin his ATP finals campaign on Sunday evening, taking on tournament debutant Alex de Minaur, before facing former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev and American Taylor Fritz.

“[De Minaur] is a very solid, very fast mover [with] a great mentality. You have to win every point somehow. He is not going to give it to you, so you have to go for it,” said Sinner.

“[Medvedev] is changing his game style a little bit so hes even more dangerous to play. He has been one of my key points in evolving myself as a player, because I struggled a lot to beat him. Now, every match is quite open, you never know whats going to happen.

“Taylor Fritz, I might know slightly less, because we haven’t had so many encounters yet. But he is an amazing server, hitting the ball very strong. He has improved a lot in the last two years, starting with the serve and returning very well.”

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2024