Nitto ATP Finals Schedule and Draw Day 8: Jannik Sinner versus Taylor Fritz preview
By Lee Vowell
2024 has belonged to Jannik Sinner, both in great ways and a disturbing one. He won the first two Grand Slams of his career, reached No. 1 on the ATP and will finish the year that way, and he made news by failing two drug tests at Indian Wells in March. There are some who do not believe that Sinner should even be playing and that he should be suspended.
Still, the Italian is seen as one of the nicest people in tennis and that helps overcome any potential flaws for the most part. Plus, he found his game at the end of 2023 and he has continued that level for most of this year. He is currently the best player in the world and there is little argument to that.
Taylor Fritz could be the best player on Sunday, though. The American has also had arguably the best season of his career. He reached a major final for the first time, losing in the US Open to...you guessed it, Sinner. Fritz also became the first American to reach the final of the ATP Finals since James Blake in 2006. If he can land his first serve consistently against Sinner, Fritz will be a problem.
Jannik Sinner has a huge paycheck to play for against Taylor Fritz in the final of the Nitto ATP Finals
Still, the match might simply come down to what Sinner does best versus what Fritz is capable of. There are few players who can return serve and move around the court as well as the Italian. This has led him to become the first Italian to reach the top ranking. Those skills will keep him near the top, assuming he remains healthy, for the next decade.
Sinner also has something to play for that Fritz doesn't. Fritz lost a match in the round-robin stage so while he can claim $2,237,200 for winning the title, Sinner has yet to lose a match and can claim $4,881,500 by finishing the ATP Finals as an undefeated champion. Winning a title is motivating, of course, but when the trophy is tied to that much money it is even more motivating.
The guess here is that Sinner wins in straight sets. The American has not beaten the Italian since 2021, and one of those losses was during the round-robin stage of this year's ATP Finals. Plus, Sinner will remember he was undefeated until the final of last year's year-end tournament and lost in the final to Novak Djokovic. He will not want to repeat that.
Nitto ATP Finals final details:
- Match time for Jannik Sinner versus Taylor Fritz: 12 pm ET (6 pm in Turin)
- How to watch: Tennis Channel
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