Jannik Sinner becomes first player since Ivan Lendl to achieve flawless ATP Finals feat

Jannik Sinner is the first player since Ivan Lendl to go through both of his ATP Finals runs without dropping a single set as he saw off Carlos Alcaraz this past Sunday in Turin.

Sinner won through 7-6(4), 7-5 to see off the Spaniard and now joins a very exclusive list. He is the only player this century and the second player ever to win back-to-back ATP Finals titles without dropping a single set.

The only other player to do this prior was Ivan Lendl back in the 80's when he sealed it in 1985 and 1986. Albeit he did it when the event was a 16-player elimination draw with four rounds. While in 1986, it switched back to the current format of three round-robin matches followed by the semi-finals and the final. The first edition was held back in 1970 so it is very much a record that could've been eclipsed before but hasn't been making it extra special for Sinner.

Albeit he will hope to win it another time next year to join Lendl on doing it three years as he completed the feat also in 1982. John McEnroe is the only other player to do it at all with Johnny Mac doing so in between the dominance of Lendl in the event in 1983.

Carlos Alcaraz not that Sinner would've known this stat was in play very nearly ended it as he held a set point in the first set of heir tie. Sinner was serving at 5-6 and at advantage but the Italian saved it. He went onto to hold, win the tie-break and then battled back from an early break down in the second to win in straight sets.

Sinner has now won 20 sets in a row at the end of year Finals which are held in his home country of Italy. It is the second longest set streak in tournament history after Lendl won 24 in a row between 1985 and 1987. Lendl won a third straight year-end championship title in 1987 but he dropped a set to Boris Becker in the round robin paying heed to those hopes of managing to further extend the record.

Last year, Sinner managed to not even get past 6-4 towards a tie-break in his best run yet in the event. This year though was tougher as he went to tie-breaks and 7-5 scorelines often in wins over Felix Auger-Aliassime and Ben Shelton. His 7-5, 6-2 win over Alex de Minaur in the semi-finals and then the aforementioned final scoreline set the tone for him.

He has also reached the final at all four Grand Slams and the ATP Finals this year and becomes the youngest player ever to achieve that feat. Pretty good going from the former World No.1.

"Celebrating with this trophy at the end of the year, especially after such an intense last couple of months, there's no better ending for me this season," Sinner said after the match.

"It was a very, very tough and close match-up, with set point in the first set. I'm just happy how I handled the situation."