Sinner Maintains 100% Record With Win Over Shelton

Defending champion Jannik Sinner attributed his straight-set triumph complete Ben Shelton successful nan penultimate group lucifer of nan ATP Finals to his intelligence strength.

The Italian, who had already secured apical spot successful Bjorn Borg Group aft winning his opening 2 matches, triumphed 6-3 7-6 (7-3) to beforehand to nan knockout stages without dropping a group aliases losing a work game.

The 24-year-old has not mislaid a lucifer since being forced to discontinue because of cramp from his third-round lucifer astatine October's Shanghai Masters, winning titles successful Vienna and Paris on nan way, while his astir caller indoor conclusion came astatine this tourney successful 2023.

Sinner will look Australia's Alex de Minaur successful nan semi-finals while Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who has secured nan year-end number 1 ranking for nan 2nd clip successful his career, is awaiting nan victor of Alexander Zverev's gathering pinch Felix Auger-Aliassime later connected Friday.

"Against Ben, it's ever a reliable challenge," Sinner said. "You person to return nan small chances you have. When he gets up pinch that immense serve, you can't do a lot. You person to not springiness up, which I've done. The intelligence facet was great."

Already eliminated Shelton took an fierce attack successful nan first set, utilising his athleticism to unreserved nan net, peculiarly connected Sinner's 2nd service wherever he won 5 of 8 points.

But, arsenic happened in Sinner's triumph complete Zverev connected Wednesday wherever he saved each 7 break points he faced, nan 2nd seed was objective successful nan cardinal moments.

He converted 2 of his 3 break-point opportunities, striking successful nan first and ninth games, produced a tally of large first serves, including 2 aces, to prevention a break constituent connected his ain serve, and struck 13 winners to Shelton's eight.

Both players were businesslike connected service successful nan 2nd set, pinch Sinner giving up conscionable 7 points crossed six work matches and Shelton holding 3 of his ain to emotion while besides redeeming nan only break constituent of nan group successful nan 10th game.

However, Sinner erstwhile again demonstrated his composure successful nan tie-break, starring 4-1 and 6-3, and offering up a mini grin earlier securing nan triumph pinch his 2nd lucifer point.