Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner has emphasized the need to approach his semi-final match against Alex de Minaur with caution, noting that his opponent “doesn’t have a lot to lose.” Sinner, who has reached the semi-finals without dropping a set or losing a service game, displayed remarkable proficiency in his recent match against Ben Shelton. He converted two out of three break-point opportunities in the first set and clinched the victory in a tie-break with his second match point. Throughout the match, Sinner maintained his serve impeccably, saving Shelton’s only break point and surrendering a mere seven points across six service games in the second set.
As Sinner aims for his third consecutive final appearance in the prestigious end-of-season tournament, he boasts an impressive 12-0 record against the seventh-seeded De Minaur. However, he is cautious about underestimating the Australian player, who recently delivered a stunning performance against Taylor Fritz, securing a spot in the semi-finals from the Jimmy Connors Group.
Sinner expressed admiration for De Minaur’s resilience, stating, “I’m very happy for [De Minaur], props to him for coming back with that performance. It’s one of the best matches I’ve seen him play.” He acknowledged the challenge ahead, recognizing that De Minaur’s current position gives him a freehand in the competition: “I have to be very careful – he doesn’t have a lot to lose. It’s going to be very difficult.”
In doubles action, British pair Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara triumphed over Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic in a tight match ending 7-6 (7-5), 6-2. This victory marked a historic moment, with five British players reaching the semi-finals— the most from a single nation since 1992. Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, who had already qualified, continued their unbeaten run with a solid 7-5, 6-3 win against Christian Harrison and Evan King. They are set to compete against fellow British players and year-end number ones Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool in the semi-finals.
This tournament is shaping up to be a thrilling conclusion to the season, with both singles and doubles matches offering fans plenty of excitement as players vie for the championship titles.