World No. 1 Jannik Sinner caps stellar year with ATP Finals victory over Taylor Fritz

Jannik Sinner capped off his extraordinary 2024 season with a dominant 6-4, 6-4 victory over Taylor Fritz in the ATP Finals final in Turin, Italy, on Sunday. The win marked his first-ever title at the prestigious season-ending event and was a sweet redemption after falling short in last year’s final against Novak Djokovic. For Sinner, it was the perfect way to conclude a year that saw him establish himself as the best player in the world.

Sinner, who came into the match as the world No. 1, was clinical throughout, continuing his remarkable form from earlier in the season. In a rematch of September’s US Open final, which Sinner also won in straight sets, the Italian was the better player from start to finish. Fritz, despite his best efforts, struggled to break down Sinner’s game and spent most of the match chasing the scoreboard.

The breakthrough came in the seventh game of the first set. Fritz fought off several break points but was eventually undone by a beautiful drop shot from Sinner, who then held serve to seal the opening set 6-4. Sinner’s serve was a major weapon in the match, as he fired in 10 aces and won 83% of his first-serve points. His powerful, consistent serving made it difficult for Fritz to find any rhythm on return.

In the second set, Sinner broke early, securing a 3-2 lead after winning a hard-fought fifth game. From there, the match seemed to be slipping further away from Fritz, who couldn’t find any opportunities to break Sinner’s serve. The American failed to generate a single break point throughout the match, and despite a valiant effort, he was unable to halt Sinner’s momentum. On match point, Fritz sent a forehand wide, and the crowd erupted as Sinner sealed the victory to claim his first ATP Finals title.

“It’s amazing, it’s my first title in Italy and it means so much to me,” Sinner said after the match. “It’s something very special. I just tried to understand what works best for each opponent, trying to play my best possible tennis. That was the key. It was a very high-level tournament from my side. At times, I couldn’t have played better, so I am very happy.”

With the win, Sinner not only secured the biggest title of his career but also made history. He became the first Italian player and the first player born in the 21st century to win the ATP Finals. He also joined an elite group of players, becoming the fourth man after Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Ivan Lendl to win the Australian Open, US Open, and ATP Finals in the same year. According to the ATP, Sinner is the first player to win the ATP Finals without dropping a set since Lendl in 1986, a remarkable achievement.

Sinner’s triumph was the eighth title of the season for the 23-year-old, the most by any ATP player in 2024. In addition to his first Grand Slam win at the US Open, Sinner claimed Masters 1000 titles in Miami, Cincinnati, and Shanghai, as well as 500-level titles in Rotterdam and Halle. His 70 match wins this season set a Tour-leading record, with only six losses, half of which came against the reigning US Open champion, Carlos Alcaraz.

Sinner’s rise to the top hasn’t been without controversy, however. Earlier this year, he avoided a suspension after testing positive for the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol in March. The International Tennis Integrity Agency later cleared him of wrongdoing, though the World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed the decision.

For Fritz, the runner-up finish marked a strong end to a breakthrough year. Despite the defeat, the American surged to a career-high No. 4 in the world rankings. He captured two titles in 2024 and reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open. Additionally, Fritz secured a bronze medal in men’s doubles at the Paris Olympics alongside Tommy Paul. His run to the ATP Finals final was a testament to his progress, and he was particularly impressive in defeating world No. 2 Alexander Zverev in the semifinals.

“It’s been a really good week for me, it’s a good way to end the year,” Fritz said after the final. “It gives me a lot of confidence finishing the season. Going into my offseason, I feel like I have a good idea of what things I need to improve on, but I also feel like I’m playing very good tennis. Back when I was No. 5, I didn’t feel like I was No. 5. Now, I’m ranked where I’m at, I feel like I belong. It’s a different feeling. It’s been a great year.”

With his impressive season, Sinner has firmly established himself as one of the sport’s brightest stars, and fans can expect many more thrilling encounters between him and the likes of Fritz and other top players in the years to come.