‘Big favourite’ Jannik Sinner backed to use home advantage in ATP Finals tilt
Jannik Sinner will use the Italian crowd to his advantage in his ATP Finals title quest, according to former world No 1 Mats Wilander.
Sinner is considered by many a significant favourite to lift his first ATP Finals crown in Turin, having been beaten by Novak Djokovic in the final 12 months ago.
Since that defeat, the 23-year-old has gone on to win his first two Grand Slam titles at the Australian and US Open and rise to world No 1.
The Italian’s ATP-leading seven tour titles and significant rankings cushion make him a sizable favourite in Turin, with action underway on Sunday.
Sinner faces Alex de Minaur in his opening match, and will then face Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz in his remaining two group matches.
Speaking to Eurosport, seven-time Grand Slam winner Wilander expressed his belief that Sinner would thrive under home crowd pressure.
He said: “Jannik Sinner is the big 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 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.
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“It’s going to actually make him more relaxed at the same time as more fired up in a way. Sinner goes in with a lot to lose, but I think he’s got way more to win because he’s back in Italy.
“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.”
The last player to win the ATP Finals on home soil was Andy Murray, who did so in 2016.
Murray also twice won Wimbledon in front of a home crowd, and Wilander backed Sinner to follow in the Brit’s footsteps – alongside other home ATP Finals winners.
“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,” Wilander added.
“Of course, we had Boris Becker playing the ATP Finals back in Germany. We had John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors playing the ATP Finals in those days – it was called the Grand Prix at Madison Square Garden.
“They all did well when they had the crowd with them.”
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