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Italy’s Jannik Sinner defeated Holger Rune to maintain his perfect start at the ATP Finals on Thursday.
Sinner’s victory ensured that world number one Djokovic, who beat Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (7-1) 4-6 6-1 earlier on Thursday, also advance to the semi-finals.
The Italian, who won 6-2 5-7 6-4, tops the group with three wins from three.
He became the first Italian in the tournament’s 54-year history to reach the last four.
But just who is this brilliant Italian who rescued Novak Djokovic’s ATP campaign?
Tenth heaven in the tenth month
On October 2, 2023 he attained his highest ranking in tennis when he reached No. 4, after winning the ATP China Open in Beijing.
Last month’s success was his ninth and 10th ATP singles titles at the ATP China Open in Beijing and Vienna Open.
The Italian defeated some of the biggest names in the sport enroute to a spectacular 9th title. He first eliminated world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the semi finals and then followed it up with his first victory over world No 3 Daniil Medvedev in seven career meetings in the final.
A second career win over Medvedev secured his 10th career title in Vienna.
Biggest victory
Sinner celebrates after defeating Alex De Minaur
Sinner’s secured his first Masters 1000 title when he defeated Alex de Minaur of Australia in the final in Toronto in August 2023. Success in Toronto was Sinner’s eighth title in total, catapulting him up to a career-high sixth place in the ATP rankings.
Rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz
Sinner shares a competitive rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz despite being friends off the court.
Sinner’s win at the China Open last month gives a marginal 4-3 advantage over his Spanish adversary.
Sinner and Alcaraz have been tipped to dominate the sport in the future
Young Money
As of November 7, 2023, Sinner has earned $12,336,062 in career prize money. The amount represents the accumulated prize monies won in both singles & doubles events combined.
Of that amount, Sinner made $5.7 million in 2023 alone, prior to the ATP Finals. An undefeated run through this week capped off by a finals win would nearly double that total by netting him $4.8 million. That would be the largest payout for a single tournament in tennis history.
Sinner and the Carota Boys
The Carota Boys is a group of five die-hard fans of Jannik Sinner, who attend Sinner’s matches dressed like carrots.
Their carrot-themed dressing was birthed when Sinner was seen eating carrots during a changeover in a competition in Vienna a few years ago. It is also thought to be partly inspired Sinner’s red hair.
The groups first notable appearance was in the Rome Masters in May 2023. A subsequent trip to Paris for the French Open, which marked their Grand Slam debut, was followed by another to London for Wimbledon.
However, they would not meet Sinner until the 2023 US Open.
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Ghananewshome
