Fritz group win sends Sinner into Turin semis

Taylor Fritz rediscovered his big serve to construct a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 final group win over Alex de Minaur at the ATP Finals on Thursday, with that victory sending Jannik Sinner into the weekend semi-finals.

It’s all about the math during the first six days of the eight-man year-end event in Turin, with top seed Sinner now over the line thanks to his own two victories and the Fritz result.

The American is on the bubble for the second spot in the final four, with only a straight-set win from Daniil Medvedev over Sinner in a few hours preventing Fritz from a place in the semis

Fritz, who called Australian de Minaur a “nightmare” to play earlier in the week, sticking to his judgement after squeezing out his two-hour win.

“Even though I won the match there was never a moment where I felt able to change anything to find (an easy) way to win,’ he said.

“He was all over me in the first set.

“In the second I started to find my serve. I was abel to stay with it an put pressure on his game.

“That gave me a bit of comfort in an incredibly tough match.”

Fritz, who ended with his sixth ace on match point, produced 26 winners to 27 for his opponent, who injured a hip at Wimbledon and missed several months for recovery.

Fritz said that if he reaches the Saturday finals, he will not be short of desire.

“We’re all pretty beat up, but if I’m in the semi-finals of the year-end championships I’ll have energy to give.”

He is aiming to become the third American man to reach multiple ATP Finals semi-finals since 2000 after Andre Agassi (2000, 2003) and Andy Roddick (2003-2004, 2007).

Main photo:-Taylor Fritz celebrating victory today – by ISF Ltd