An incredible statistic highlights the superb recent record Jannik Sinner has against his fellow elite ATP players ahead of his clash with Novak Djokovic in the ATP Finals final.
The world No 4 is on a superb run against high-ranked players as he is looking to earn a second-straight victory over Djokovic in Sunday’s mouthwatering Turin title match.
Sinner produced a fine display to overcome world No 4 Daniil Medvedev in three sets in the semi-finals of the 2023 ATP Finals on Saturday. He is the first Italian player to reach the final of the year-end championships in the event’s 53-year history.
The 22-year-old, who is making his full ATP Finals debut as a qualifier having played two matches as an alternate in 2022, posted a perfect 3-0 group stage record.
The Italian downed world No 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in his opening match, before earning his first victory over world No 1 Novak Djokovic with a brilliant three-set triumph.
In his final round-robin matchup, Sinner scored his first win over world No 8 Holger Rune, who had prevailed in both of the pair’s previous encounters.
Jannik Sinner is the first man to reach the final of the ATP Finals undefeated before the age of 23 since 2003.
The last man to do it?
Roger Federer.
Walking a legendary path. 🇮🇹👣 pic.twitter.com/NaVxL08ljS
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 18, 2023
With his three-set triumph against Rune, fourth-ranked Sinner has now won his most recent match against 15 of the other current top 17 players in the ATP Rankings.
World No 7 Alexander Zverev is the only player in the top 17 who won his last match against Sinner, with the German prevailing in five sets at the US Open in September.
Of these 15 wins, 13 have come during the 2023 season – highlighting Sinner’s evolution this year and how impressive he has been against the best players in the world.
Sinner is yet to face world No 18 Cameron Norrie, while he lost his only match against 19th-ranked Nicolas Jarry in 2019, and won his previous clash with world No 20 Ugo Humbert in 2021.
Jannik Sinner’s most recent matches against the current ATP top 17
1. Novak Djokovic – won 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) in 2023 ATP Finals RR
2. Carlos Alcaraz – won 7-6(4), 6-1 in 2023 Beijing SF
3. Daniil Medvedev – won 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-1 in 2023 ATP Finals SF
5. Andrey Rublev – won 7-5, 7-6(5) in 2023 Vienna SF
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas – won 6-4, 6-4 in 2023 ATP Finals RR
7. Alexander Zverev – lost 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6 in 2023 US Open R16
8. Holger Rune – won 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in 2023 ATP Finals RR
9. Hubert Hurkacz – won 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, in 2023 Monte Carlo R16
10. Taylor Fritz – won 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in 2023 Indian Wells QF
11. Casper Ruud – won 7-5, 6-1 in 2021 Vienna QF
12. Alex De Minaur – won 6-4, 6-1 in 2023 Toronto F
13. Tommy Paul – won 6-4, 6-4 in 2023 Toronto SF
14. Grigor Dimitrov – won 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in 2023 Beijing QF
15. Karen Khachanov – won 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 in 2021 Miami R32
16. Frances Tiafoe – won 6-3, 6-4 in 2023 Vienna QF
17. Ben Shelton – won 7-6(2), 7-5 in 2023 Vienna R32
Sinner is aiming to become the first player to defeat 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic twice in the same tournament when the pair face off in the ATP Finals final. The 36-year-old Serbian crushed world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 6-2 in the last four on Saturday.
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