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Eight stars answered questions at Carignano Theatre on Thursday
November 07, 2024
Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz share a joke on stage in Turin.
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz share a joke on stage in Turin.
By Sam Jacot
After a hard-fought season, involving twists and turns, the Nitto ATP Finals commences on Sunday in Turin, where the best eight players this season will battle it out to end the season as the ultimate champion.

Before the serious business commences, the players swapped their racquets for the blue carpet on Thursday evening. The eight stars – Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur, Andrey Rublev – signed autographs before they took to stage at the grand Carignano Theatre in front of an audience of young fans, answering questions on their chances in Turin, their seasons and much more.

“It is very special,” Sinner opened to cheers when asked about playing at home in Turin. “I missed Rome this year which was tough mentally for me. I am very happy to be back here. Last year was a great event and a great atmosphere for everyone. I hope it will be a great event.”


Sinner, who received raucous cheers from the audience at the theatre, arrives in Turin as the World No. 1, having lifted majors at the Australian Open and US Open in 2024. Last year, the 23-year-old lit up the Inalpi Arena with his swashbuckling play, but fell one match short of the title, losing to Novak Djokovic in the final.

Seeking the winning feeling this year, Sinner faces stiff competition from World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who won the year’s other majors at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

“When I smile on court I show my best tennis, my best shots. I try to play solid but aggressively and need to do it perfectly if I am to lift the trophy,” Alcaraz said on stage when analysing his title chances. “I come here with the goal to win. I want to put this trophy next to the others and it is a good goal. I am playing against the best players in the world, so I need to play my best.”

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/jann ... ew'>Jannik Sinner</a>/<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/carl ... ew'>Carlos Alcaraz</a>
Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Alcaraz and Sinner will not meet in the Round Robin stage, having been drawn in separate groups on Thursday. One man Alcaraz will face in the group is two-time champion Alexander Zverev.

The German won the title in London in 2018 and then in 2021, after the event moved to Turin, became the first year-end champion in the Italian city. Zverev, who clinched the ATP Masters 1000 crown in Rome earlier this year, has fond memories playing in Italy.

“For me, Italy is a country of firsts,” Zverev said on stage. “I won my first Masters 1000 here in Rome and then I won my first Masters back after injury this year in Rome. I won the first ever year here in Turin, so there are a lot of special memories that connect me to Italy. I am a bit out there and I think the Italian people are also a bit [out there], so it is fitting. I really love the atmosphere the Italians give.”

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Alongside Zverev, Medvedev has become part of the furniture in Turin. The 28-year-old is set to make his sixth consecutive appearance at the event, having won in 2020. A consistent member of the Top 8, Medvedev opened up on how he has adjusted his game during the years.

“I think I have changed my style. When I was very young I was super aggressive, when I was 19 or 20. Then I changed back to my roots,” Medvedev said. “When I was young, I used to hit lobs, and now I am kind of back to it. I just try to do whatever works on court and try to win.”

Medvedev’s philosophy of 'win at all costs' is one all eight will take with them when they step onto court from Sunday. With a lot on the line, the talking is now over and the quest to win in Turin is on.

Players walk the blue carpet at the Piazza Carlo Alberto
November 08, 2024
The 2024 Nitto ATP Finals take place from 10-17 November at the Inalpi Arena in Turin.
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
The 2024 Nitto ATP Finals take place from 10-17 November at the Inalpi Arena in Turin.
By ATP Staff
Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, and fellow Nitto ATP Finals competitors have arrived in Turin.

Players were greeted by thousands of fans as they walked the blue carpet at the Piazza Carlo Alberto, one of Turin's most picturesque squares, where a tournament promotion was projected onto the facade of the National Library.

German has tallied a season-leading 66 match wins
November 08, 2024
Alexander Zverev is making his seventh Nitto ATP Finals appearance.
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Alexander Zverev is making his seventh Nitto ATP Finals appearance.
By ATP Staff
Is Alexander Zverev poised for a Nitto ATP Finals hat trick?

The German, who triumphed at the season finale in 2018 and 2021, is riding a wave of momentum as he enters this year’s edition on a five-match win streak following his dominant run to the Rolex Paris Masters title. It marked Zverev’s seventh ATP Masters 1000 crown — and his second this season after also claiming the Rome title.

After a successful comeback season in 2023, during which Zverev qualified for Turin, the 27-year-old has now firmly reestablished himself at the sport’s biggest events.

“In 2023, I didn’t feel like I was competitive in big events, I was far away from winning them. Being able to compete and make Grand Slam finals, win Masters 1000 events, that is a big satisfaction to me because there were obviously question marks if I was ever going to do that again after the injury,” Zverev told ATP Media when reflecting on his 2024 season.

“It was the first year where I was competitive again in big events. I’m happy with where I am.”

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Now setting his sights on another significant stage, Zverev is making his seventh Nitto ATP Finals appearance. Since 2017, the only year he did not qualify for the season finale was in 2022, when he was forced to shut down his year at Roland Garros due to a severe ankle injury.

The field of eight players consists of just two former champions: Zverev and Daniil Medvedev. The Hamburg native is the only player competing that has won the event multiple times. [Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic qualified but is not competing.]

“I think coming in and playing one of the best eight players in the world straight off is a very difficult thing to do. You have to be focused, you have to be ready from the get go,” Zverev said. “I’m looking forward to this week.”

Boasting a season-leading 66 match wins, Zverev is placed in The John Newcombe Group alongside Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev. Zverev will begin his campaign Monday against Rublev, who the German leads 6-3 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“[He's a] powerful, extremely fast player,” said Zverev, World No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “He tries to overpower you. The most important thing against him is to not let him.”

German defeats Rublev in John Newcombe Group for Tour-leading 67th win of 2024
November 11, 2024
Alexander Zverev improves to 6-1 in opening round-robin matches at the Nitto ATP Finals.
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Alexander Zverev improves to 6-1 in opening round-robin matches at the Nitto ATP Finals.
By Jerome Coombe
Alexander Zverev ignited his pursuit for a third Nitto ATP Finals trophy with a commanding victory on Monday evening.

The second seed locked in to defeat Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-4 to open his account at the season finale in Turin. Two-time champion Zverev stood firm in the face of a fast start from Rublev to clinch his Tour-leading 67th win of 2024 in just 72 minutes.

After improving to 7-3 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, Zverev will continue his hat-trick hunt against Casper Ruud or Carlos Alcaraz in the John Newcombe Group.

Faced with the most prolific server in the Nitto ATP Finals field, it was Rublev who got off to a blistering start inside Inalpi Arena. The 27-year-old won each of his opening 13 points on serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats, but a lapse in the seventh game gifted Zverev the crucial first break of the match.

Zverev bided his time in the second set before pouncing in the ninth game to maintain his dominant record in opening round-robin matches at the event (6-1).

More to follow…