Italy's Jannik Sinner clinched the trophy after defeating USA's Taylor Fritz in the final of the ATP Finals held in Turin. — AFP
Jannik Sinner, after securing his maiden ATP Finals title on Sunday, expressed that there are still areas he can enhance in the coming year, marking the end of a nearly flawless season for the world number one. The 23-year-old Sinner triumphed over Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the season-ending event in Turin, securing his eighth title of an extraordinary season that commenced with his first Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open. He followed this up with another major win at the US Open in September, despite being embroiled in a doping controversy after twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol six months earlier. An appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency against his initial exoneration is still pending, with WADA seeking a potential two-year ban for the Italian. As Sinner awaits the resolution of this case, he is focused on 2025, aiming to refine his game further—a prospect that could be daunting for his competitors, given his current streak of 26 wins out of his last 27 matches.
"Whatever we can seize, we take, and the rest we learn. I think that was the mindset we adopted this entire year, striving to elevate my performance in critical moments, which I managed to do throughout this year," Sinner remarked. "I'm extremely pleased about that because it's a wonderful way to conclude an incredible season. Numerous victories, numerous titles."
Sinner made history as the first Italian to win the Finals in its 55-year existence, achieving this feat just days after becoming the first from his nation to top the ATP's year-end rankings. His 70th win of the season, a Tour-leading tally, made him the first player since Ivan Lendl in 1986 to win the tournament without dropping a set. "I genuinely believe there is still room for improvement," Sinner noted. "There are certain shots and points I can sometimes execute better, but these are minor details. The higher your level of play, the more these details matter."
Sinner's response to losing last year's championship match at the ATP Finals to Novak Djokovic was to surpass the Serbian at the pinnacle of the sport. He once again dominated Fritz in straight sets, mirroring his performances in the group stage and the US Open final in September, boosting his hard court record this year to 50-3. "I endeavored to improve myself compared to last year, to discover the keys to winning this final. I'm delighted to have managed this pressure and to share this triumph with the Italian crowd," Sinner said. "It's incredible, my first title in Italy, and it holds immense significance for me."
Sinner now sets his sights on Malaga, where he hopes to guide Italy to a successful defense of their Davis Cup title. Following a well-earned rest, he will head to Australia in the new year, arriving in Melbourne with the added pressure of defending a Grand Slam crown for the first time. "I'm unsure how I will react, how I will perform," Sinner admitted. "Certainly, I will prepare in the best possible manner. Like every tournament, we aim to prepare thoroughly, and then we shall see. I always say tennis is unpredictable. You never know what might occur. So, it will be all good if mentally you're in a strong place."
Fritz, despite falling short in his attempt to become the ATP Finals' first American champion since Pete Sampras in 1999, will rise to a career-best ranking of fourth. "With the positive results, it's been an outstanding week for me," Fritz said, defeated by Sinner for the fourth time in five encounters. "It's a great way to conclude the year. It provides me with a lot of confidence heading into the next season." Beginning next year, Fritz feels he has a clear understanding of areas he needs to improve on but also feels he is playing at a higher level and is more confident in his game.
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