Italian 18-year-old Jannik Sinner thrilled the very supportive Italian crowd with an exciting 3-4 (4-7) 4-2 4-2 4-2 win over US Frances Tiafoe in a Group B match at the Next Gen ATP Finals.
Sinner has extended his winning record in the head-to-head matches against Tiafoe to 2-0 after beating the US player last month in Antwerp.
Sinner, who started the season at number 551 in the ATP Ranking, is now the youngest player inside the top 100 after a very successful season in which he reached his first ATP Tour semifinal in Antwerp and scored his first main draw Masters 1000 win in Rome.
In the first set both players held their serve in the first six games setting up a tie-break. Tiafoe earned an early mini-break and raced out to a 6-1 lead erning five set points. Sinner won three consecutive points to claw his way back to 4-6. Tiafoe sealed the first set on the 11th point after a forehand error from Sinner.
Sinner did not convert three break points in the third game of the second set but he got the first break of the match in the fourth game to take a 3-2 lead. He did not convert two set points in the sixth game, but he closed out the set after a forehand error.
Sinner broke serve in the third game of the third set with a forehand winner to take a 2-1 lead. The Italian teenager saved two break points at 3-2 with service winners before sealing the third set with an ace on the set point.
Sinner hit a service winner in the second game of the fourth set to hold his serve before breaking serve in the third game after a forehand error from Tiafoe. Sinner closed out the match 4-2 on his third match point with a forehand smash in the sixth game after 1 hour and 27 minutes. Sinner hit 31 winners to 20 unforced errors.
“There are different rules. Everything is going very fast. You have to be very focused. On the deciding point. Being in Milan, many Italian fans are coming to watch. I am just very happy. I think me and Tiafoe are very similar, so you have to be very tough with the mental aspect. I did that very well. I have improved everything day after day. That’s our main goal and the results will come. We played better than in Antwerp. We pushed and risked more on return. I serve well in the most decisive moments of the match and this made the difference. I don’t like the new rules. I don’t think they will have future on the ATP Tour. It does not depent on players”, said Sinner.
