Tennis

Djokovic beats Alcaraz to set up ATP Finals title clash with Sinner

Home favourite Sinner earlier thrilled the Turin crowd with semi-final win over Daniil Medvedev

Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during the semi-final match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev at the ATP Finals in Turin. Photograph: Tiziana Fabi/AFP via Getty Images
Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during the semi-final match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev at the ATP Finals in Turin. Photograph: Tiziana Fabi/AFP via Getty Images
Sat Nov 18 2023 - 22:48

World number one Novak Djokovic outclassed Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 6-2 on Saturday to reach his ninth ATP Finals title match where he will face local favourite Jannik Sinner in Turin on Sunday.

In a rematch of this season’s Wimbledon final, the winner of an all-time record 24 men’s Grand Slam titles capitalised on the Spaniard’s inconsistency to continue his quest for a seventh trophy this year and become the most successful player in 2023.

The 20-year-old Alcaraz, who also has won six titles this season, missed out on becoming the youngest finalist in the season-ending tournament since Pete Sampras in 1991.

Djokovic, aiming for a tournament record seventh title, now meets Sinner, who earlier beat Daniil Medvedev, and will be out for revenge after losing to the Italian in the group stage.

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Sinner became the first Italian player to reach the title match, the 22-year-old soaking up everything Medvedev threw at him and emerged with a 6-3 6-7(4) 6-1 victory. Sinner was the only player to win all three group matches.

Medvedev was seeking to reach his 10th final of an impressive season and had the first opportunity to secure a break of serve at 1-1 in the opening set, but Sinner stood firm.

[ ATP Finals: ‘Jannik-mania’ takes over in Italy as Sinner puts rivals to the sword ]

Sinner secured a decisive break in the next game as some errors flew off the Medvedev racket.

Both players were rock-solid on serve in the second set with only one break point, saved by Sinner, on the way to a tiebreak.

Medvedev, sticking relentlessly to his heavy baseline game, grabbed the initiative and levelled the contest when Sinner sent a forehand over the baseline.

Sinner got his nose in front early in the decider when Medvedev double-faulted and moved to the brink of victory with another break to storm into a 5-1 lead.

The world number four brought up three match points with a superb backhand winner and sealed victory at the first attempt.

After losing his first six matches against Medvedev, Sinner has now won three in a row against the Russian.

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023