TURIN: Alexander Zverev secured a spot in the last four of the ATP Finals on Friday with 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 victory over Carlos Alcaraz whose campaign at the season-ending event ended at the group stage.

World number two Zverev ensured he would advance after taking the first set after more than an hour of battle in northern Italy and then swept through the second for his third victory in as many matches.

Alcaraz, who won Wimbledon and the French Open this season but has struggled for form in Turin, has been eliminated as there is no combination of results which can help him progress.

With the win, second seed Zverev ensured a first-place finish in John Newcombe Group. He will next face US Open finalist Taylor Fritz.

The victory was even sweeter for Zverev, having lost the French Open final against Alcaraz in June.

“He (Alcaraz) beat me too many times this year in important matches, so I’m happy that I got this one,” Zverev said.

“Obviously I feel like we have a pretty good rivalry with a great friendship as well, so it’s always nice to play against him... Just sharing the court with him. He’s a great guy and I’m looking forward to the next matches with him as well.

“It’s been three fantastic matches. I’m happy with being 3-0 in the group for sure, but I think now the semi-final is going to be very difficult. (Taylor) beat me the past few times at the slams, so I’m looking forward to that match.”

In Thursday’s late match, Jannik Sinner also topped his Group after comfortably defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 at the Inalpi Arena.

World number one Sinner had already qualified for the semi-finals thanks to Alex De Minaur winning the opening set in his defeat to Fritz earlier in the day.

And he only needed a set to ensure top spot in the Ilie Nastase Group and deny Medvedev a place in the last four of the season-ending event in Turin.

Sinner was in no mood to disappoint his passionate home supporters and put in the latest in an increasingly long line of impressive performances to head into the semis with a perfect three wins from three.

“I have a reason to smile, it was a good match and a brilliant atmosphere as always,” said a delighted Sinner. “It was a difficult match, Daniil and I know each other really well so I knew that I had to get it right tactically... Let’s see who I have in the semi-finals, I’m happy to get there.”

Medvedev would have progressed with a win in straight sets but the world number four has now won just one of his last nine matches with Sinner and was outclassed in Italy.

After finishing the season with no titles, he told reporters that he rated his season “zero out of 10” when looking at “where I put my goals and where I finish”.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2024