As the highly anticipated Nitto ATP Finals unfold in Turin, the impending clash between Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton on Friday promises to wrap up their group stage appearances. Although Sinner has already secured his spot in the semifinals with an impressive 2-0 record in Group Bjorn Borg, Shelton’s journey has come to a premature end, finishing the group stage at 0-2.
This match will be the ninth instance where Sinner and Shelton compete against each other. Remarkably, Sinner holds a commanding 7-1 lead in their overall encounters. Since their initial meeting at the 2023 Shanghai Masters—where Shelton emerged victorious—Sinner has not only avenged that defeat but also accounted for seven consecutive wins against the young American, consistently dominating in straight sets and showcasing exceptional form by winning 17 sets in a row.
Shelton enters this showdown on the heels of a challenging debut at the year-end championships. His performance was hindered by fitness issues, having dealt with a shoulder injury sustained during the U.S. Open. This setback has undoubtedly affected his late-season momentum, as he has tallied only three victories against six losses during the fall tour. His recent matches have been particularly tough, suffering narrow defeats to Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, the latter of which saw him narrowly miss out with a final score of 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-5.
On the contrary, Sinner is riding a wave of success, having established a seven-match winning streak at the ATP Finals. His most recent victories include solid performances against Auger-Aliassime (7-5, 6-1) and Zverev (6-4, 6-3). With an overall record of 12-2 in Turin, which includes being the undefeated champion last year, Sinner has proven himself to be a formidable competitor on this stage.
While Sinner may occasionally find his focus wavering due to the lack of stakes in this particular match, his desire to maintain momentum heading into the semifinals should keep him resolute. With the support of the home crowd and his current trajectory, Sinner is heavily favored to continue his dominance over Shelton.
In summary, this match is set to underscore Sinner’s potency as he heads into the latter stages of the tournament. Expect a decisive win for the world No. 2 as he looks to reaffirm his status and carry his winning streak forward.
Prediction: Sinner in straight sets.
