Jannik Sinner got his title defence on home soil at the ATP Finals off to a solid start with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Félix Auger-Aliassime, who struggled with a calf injury.
As the Italian clinched a tight first set with a break in the 14th game, Auger-Aliassime suffered a problem with his left calf and was twice treated by a trainer during the second set. It remains to be seen whether the Canadian, whose place in Turin was only confirmed on Sunday, will be fit to play his remaining two group games.
“It was very tough until 6-5 and then he had a physical issue,” said Sinner, who won the title here last year without dropping a set. “It’s a special tournament and place for me,” he added as fans chanted his name during the post-match interview.
On his opponent’s injury, Sinner said: “I hope it’s not too serious and wish him a speedy recovery and he gets back to 100% physically. You don’t want to win like this but if there’s a chance you have to use it. It’s not nice, Félix has had some tough injuries so we wish him the best.”
To claim the year-end No 1 ranking. Sinner needs to win the ATP Finals and hope that his great rival, Carlos Alcaraz, does not reach the final. Sinner and Alexander Zverev lead the Bjorn Borg Group with a win each after Zverev beat Ben Shelton on Sunday.
Earlier on Monday, Taylor Fritz beat late entry Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-4 in the Jimmy Connors Group. Unlike Musetti, who was making his debut, Fritz has pedigree in the tournament after reaching the final last year and the semifinals on his debut in 2022.
“A very important one to win, I would say, if I want to make it out of the group,” Fritz said. “He plays quite different with the slices and everything. So it took me some time to get used to it. I was able to avoid getting broken early … then I feel like I kind of got into the match more. I thought I played really well.”
Musetti would have qualified at Auger-Aliassime’s expense with a win over Novak Djokovic in the Athens final on Sunday – but despite losing, he earned a place as Djokovic withdrew from the ATP Finals with a shoulder injury.
“I couldn’t be at 100% in shape, especially physically,” said Musetti, who arrived in his home town on Sunday evening. “Mentally, I’m really glad that I’m here. I’m super proud of myself, of my team, of what we achieved. Today, I tried to fight with what I had.”
Fritz and Alcaraz lead the group with one win each, while Alex de Minaur and Musetti are yet to get on the board. On Tuesday, Fritz plays Alcaraz in the afternoon match before Musetti faces De Minaur in a likely eliminator. Associated Press/PA Media
Doubles delight for British trio
In the doubles event, Britain’s Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski won their opening match against Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic by a score of 6-3, 7-5. Another British player, Henry Patten, also enjoyed victory alongside Finland’s Harri Heliövaara. The pair beat US duo Christian Harrison and Evan King 6-4, 6-4.
Monday’s results mean that Salisbury and Skupski, the fifth seeds, lead the John McEnroe Group alongside second seeds Heliövaara and Patten. The top seeds, Britain’s Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, lost their opener in the Peter Fleming Group against Italy’s Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-5, 6-3 on Sunday. Guardian sport
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Otherwise, though, thanks for your company; we’ll see you tomorrow for more. But until then, peace.
