Jannik Sinner is making strides at the Rolex Paris Masters, although he appears to be managing some discomfort in his right leg, frequently stretching and flexing it during his first-round match against Francisco Cerundolo. The Italian, aiming to reclaim the No. 1 ranking after his rival’s early exit, secured his first Masters title of the season by defeating the Argentine 7-5, 6-1 in a match that lasted 85 minutes.
Sinner showcased a strong performance, hitting 12 winners and committing just two unforced errors in the first set. After a challenging start, where he found himself on the brink of dropping his serve twice, he regained his composure and broke Cerundolo in a lengthy 10-minute game early in the second set, paving his path to the quarterfinals.
Reflecting on his match, Sinner stated, “I was up twice with the break in the first set and could not convert. I put myself in a tough situation, but I am pleased with how I finished the match and felt much better. My main focus is on physical recovery. Today was a great match and a solid performance from me.”
Next up for Sinner is an encounter with Ben Shelton, who recently advanced by besting Andrey Rublev 7-6(6), 6-3. Shelton’s victory secured his place at the ATP Finals in Turin next month, marking his debut at this prestigious end-of-year event.
Shelton will join fellow American Taylor Fritz, who confirmed his position earlier this week, making it the first time two Americans have qualified for the ATP Finals since 2006. Adding to the competition in Turin is the eighth-seeded Alex de Minaur, who also secured his spot after defeating Karen Khachanov 6-2, 6-2 in just 68 minutes, marking his second appearance at the Finals. He is the first Australian to qualify since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004.
The current ATP Finals lineup includes Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, and Lorenzo Musetti, who holds the eighth spot but is currently out of the Paris tournament. However, Musetti’s closest competitor, Felix Auger-Aliassime, is still in the draw, having advanced to the quarterfinals after a comeback victory over Daniel Altmaier, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Auger-Aliassime is only 290 points behind Musetti and could potentially overtake him if he continues to progress in the tournament.
Daniil Medvedev, currently ranked 13th in the Race to Turin standings, kept his hopes alive by reaching the quarterfinals after a grueling two-hour and 39-minute match against Lorenzo Sonego, ultimately winning 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4. To secure a place in the Finals, Medvedev must win the tournament.
Next, he faces defending champion Alexander Zverev, who eliminated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina with a straightforward 6-2, 6-4 victory. This matchup will see Medvedev and Zverev face off for the 22nd time, with Medvedev holding a lead of 14-7 in their previous encounters, having won the last five meetings.
