Mats Wilander tips Jannik Sinner as big 'favourite' for ATP Finals

Former world number one Mats Wilander believes that Italy’s Jannik Sinner will be a ‘big favourite’ for the upcoming ATP Finals. The last major event in the men’s tennis calendar will begin on Sunday in Turin, Italy, where the top eight players will participate to showcase their talent and secure the ultimate prize.

Former world number one Wilander recently spoke to Eurosport about the prospect of the reigning world number one competing in the upcoming mega-event. The 60-year-old was of the opinion that Sinner has shown enough quality this year to make himself a real contender for the mega-event.

“Jannik Sinner is the big favourite,” Wilander said. “I think Sinner is going to have the same destiny in terms of playing well. Now, Carlos Alcaraz. How can you ever be considered the favourite when Alcaraz is in the field? But he might not have to play him. Therefore, he's the favourite. I think it has to do with the fact that this year has been unbelievable. He won the two hard-court Grand Slams that we had, and he won another five tournaments. Also, it's back in Italy. If this happened last year, I think there'd be a lot of pressure on him.

“But he already showed up last year, beating Novak [Djokovic] in the Round Robin, and of course, losing in the final. But he made it to the final, and then he won the Davis Cup. So I think in terms of pressure from his home fans, he's using it the way Andy Murray used the Wimbledon crowd, which is going to give him inspiration.”

Sinner is going through a fabulous season. The 23-year-old, who is already regarded as one of the best players currently playing in men’s tennis in the singles category, has won two out of four Grand Slams this year. He lifted the Australian Open after beating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the final in a five-set thriller with a score of 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. He then defeated America’s Taylor Fritz in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to lift the US Open.