Jannik Sinner downs Felix Auger-Aliassime at Nitto ATP Finals

Match Report

Sinner downs ailing Auger-Aliassime at Nitto ATP Finals

Home favourite prevails as Canadian struggles with left leg injury

Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

Jannik Sinner now leads Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. By Andy West

Jannik Sinner made a confident start to his Nitto ATP Finals title defence on Monday evening, although the home favourite’s 7-5, 6-1 opening victory in Turin came against an injury-hampered Felix Auger-Aliassime.

With his one-hour, 41-minute victory, Sinner improved to 1-0 in Bjorn Borg Group. The 24-year-old, who did not face a break point against Auger-Aliassime, is now on a 27-match winning streak indoors, and he has not dropped a set at the Nitto ATP Finals since his 2023 final defeat to Novak Djokovic.

“It was a very tough match until 6-5," said Sinner. "I had some chances to break. He served very well, only once I missed a return, but it can happen. He played some very aggressive tennis, so I’m happy to overcome a very tough test today. Obviously winning the first match is very important in this competition and this format. I’m very happy.

“I hope it‘s nothing too serious. I wish him obviously a very speedy recovery and hopefully he is back to 100 per cent physically.”

By triumphing on Monday night at Inalpi Arena, Sinner also kept alive his chances of pipping Carlos Alcaraz for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours. The Italian trails his rival by 1,050 points in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, with Alcaraz having begun his Nitto ATP Finals campaign by defeating Alex de Minaur on Sunday afternoon.

In a rematch of their Rolex Paris Masters championship-match clash eight days ago, Sinner and Auger-Aliassime played out a hard-fought first set. The Canadian dug deep to fend off two break points at 3-2 and a set point at 5-4, but he was unable to deny Sinner a decisive break in a 12th game in which he also appeared to start feeling pain in his left leg after he served at 0/30.

Auger-Aliassime took an off-court medical time-out at the end of the first set and although he battled bravely in his first Nitto ATP Finals appearance since 2022, the No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings was unable to recover from dropping serve in the second game of the second set. He also received treatment on his leg on court at 0-3, when he indicated to the physio that he was feeling pain in his left calf, and again at 1-4.

In trademark fashion, Sinner struck the ball cleanly throughout the match and he retained his focus throughout as Auger-Aliassime’s physical struggles played out across the net. The second seed finished the match having won 89 per cent (32/36) of points behind his first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Following his November victories against Auger-Aliassime in Paris and Turin, the Italian has opened a 4-2 lead in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“You still have to be very consistent, with a great balance on the court,” said Sinner, when asked about facing a physically struggling opponent. “Especially mentally, it is a bit different, but at the same time it is an advantage. You have to say that. You have to use it in the right way, even if you don’t want it to be like this.”

Click here to read article