Jannik Sinner concluded an excellent season by defeating Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to win his first-ever ATP Finals title in Turin. The 23-year-old Italian became the first from his country to win the prestigious season-ending tournament to conclude a year marked by eight titles, including his maiden Grand Slam victories at the Australian and US Opens.
World number one Sinner outclassed Fritz for the third time this season, emulating his straight-sets victories in the group stage and September’s US Open final. His win marked a 70th victory of the year and he became the first man since Ivan Lendl in 1986 to win an ATP Finals without a single set dropped.
The turning point in the match came in a thrilling seventh game of the first set when Sinner converted his fourth break point following an epic nine-minute breakdown of Fritz’s serve. Fritz never was able to find any momentum, failing to earn even a single break point in the second set, which meant the lead for Sinner was never in jeopardy.
But despite the victory, controversy has clouded Sinner’s season after he twice tested positive for traces of the banned steroid clostebol. A WADA appeal seeking a potential two-year ban hangs in the balance, casting a shadow over his rise to the top of the sport.
