“None of the days are the same”: Jannik Sinner stays grounded ahead of De Minaur duel

Jannik Sinner closed out the group stage of the ATP Finals with another straight-sets victory, this time defeating Ben Shelton 6–3, 7–6(3). The Italian has now collected wins over Félix Auger-Aliassime, Alexander Zverev, and Shelton without dropping a set, extending his indoor streak and confirming his place among the tournament favourites.

After the match, he made clear that despite the scorelines, Shelton continues to present a demanding challenge. “Every match is challenging, especially against Ben. Incredible serve. At times you have some small looks to break, but at the end of the day, if he’s serving bombs, it’s very difficult.”

Competing in Turin has once again brought out a sharp, focused version of Sinner, who now holds a 13-match winning streak since his last defeat in Shanghai. Against Shelton, he relied on precise serving and firm decision-making in pressure moments, maintaining his record of not being broken this week.

Even with semifinal qualification already secured, he pushed himself to deliver one more complete performance. “I’m happy to be here. It’s also not easy when you’re already through to the semis, but you still have to play,” the 4-time major champion said to Tennis Channel. “And I’m someone who wants to win as many matches as possible, which I’ve done. I’m very happy to be in the semis, and now let’s see what’s coming.”

The home atmosphere has contributed to the clarity and confidence with which Sinner has competed. He has now equalled Roger Federer’s run of 29 consecutive indoor hard-court victories, and with nine indoor titles already in his career, the environment suits him perfectly. Yet Sinner emphasised that performing in front of Italian supporters carries a responsibility as well as a privilege. “This is a very unique place to play tennis, especially for me being Italian,” Sinner added. “We have only a couple of chances, which is Rome and here, and that’s it. At times we have Davis Cup, of course, but I just try to make the home crowd happy.”

With a 51–3 record on hard courts since Shanghai 2024, Sinner continues to produce one of the most dominant stretches seen on the surface in recent years. “Seeing myself again in the semis here in my home country is very, very special for me,” added the 24-year-old local star, who also thanked the broad support of the Italian public. “They want to watch good tennis matches, and we are here trying to provide that.”

Sinner now turns toward a semifinal meeting against Alex de Minaur, a matchup he leads 12–0. The Australian’s speed, court coverage, and resilience are well known, yet Sinner’s aggressive patterns have consistently broken through those defences. Even with a dominant head-to-head, Sinner avoided giving the impression of certainty, stressing the unpredictability that tennis always carries. “None of the days are the same, so let’s see what’s coming tomorrow.”

The Italian’s steady approach has remained a theme throughout the week. He has spoken often about the importance of managing expectation rather than scorelines, especially at home where emotions can run high. The crowd support gives him energy, but he uses it with discipline, not urgency. What matters most, he insisted, is keeping a balanced mindset and staying present at every stage of the event. “I try to bring some good and calm energy,” affirmed the defending champion. “At the end of the day, they want to watch some good tennis matches, and we are here trying to provide that. And to do so, you need the best players in the world. I’m happy to be one of them, and I’m also happy to be in the semis.”

Sinner will take the court without the pressure of the World No. 1 ranking at stake—after Carlos Alcaraz signed off on a perfect Round Robin that guarantees he finishes the year at the top of the rankings. The Italian's sole mission will be to defend the title, and De Minaur will be his first obstacle. This is the opponent with the most favorable H2H record for Sinner in the tournament (12-0), with a clear superiority also in terms of sets (27-2).