Looks can be deceiving. Plenty feel the same when relating Jannik Sinner to this. Surprisingly, on the flip side, he is more dangerous than the intimidating look he carries. After a highly successful run this season, the Italian is far from hunting a ‘mid’ conclusion to the year. Subsequently, in hopes of adding another silverware to his resume, the top seed will have to surpass Alex de Minaur‘s challenge in the round-robin stage opener of the ATP Finals in Turin on Monday, November 11.

Sinner vs de Minaur: Preview

Sinner enters the year-end championship as a clear favorite in hometown Turin, bolstered by an impressive form. A standout performer on the tour this season, the Italian added seven tour-level crowns to his locker this year. Moreover, he was the last man standing at both the hardcourt Slams in Melbourne and New York. The World No. 1 will commence his ATP Finals title hunt after finessing his prowess against Serbian rival Novak Djokovic in Shanghai. Moreover, he hardly put a wrong foot at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh a week later.

Minaur, on the other hand, has raised his performance on the tour but, fitness struggles in the latter half of the season have posed a significant challenge for him. Despite chalking up 47 wins from 63 matches and title-winning runs in Acapulco and Rosmalen, the Aussie skipped the Asian hardcourt swing and a mild drop in form affected his chances during the European indoor stretch. He will arrive in Turin after losing to Holger Rune in a three-set thriller at the Paris Masters.

Sinner vs de Minaur: Head-to-Head

Both players will mark their eighth overall meeting on the tour in Turin. As far as their previous encounters go, Sinner heavily dominates their head-to-head tally. He overpowered the Aussie recently in the title decider of the 2024 Rotterdam Open and as a result, leads Minaur 7-0 in their tour-level clashes.

• 2024 Rotterdam, Final: Sinner 7-5, 6-4
• 2023 Davis Cup Finals, Final: Sinner 6-3, 6-0
• 2023 Paris Masters, R16: Sinner W/O
• 2023 Masters 1000 Canada, Final: Sinner 6-4, 6-1
• 2022 Madrid, R32: Sinner 6-4, 6-1
• 2022 Australian Open, R16: Sinner 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-4
• 2020 Sofia, QF: Sinner 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-1
• 2019 ATP Finals, Final: Sinner 4-2, 4-1, 4-2

Prediction: Sinner to win in straight sets

Boasting high-profile victories and a dominating stance on his aggressive baseline game, Sinner is as tough as they come. Rivals often perish when trying to overpower him with long rallies and instead, end up catching winners from the Italian from the most unwinnable positions. He is the crowd favorite in Turin and will be looking to add an eighth title in his hometown. Moreover, the support from the locals will give him an extra boost and put him in an advantageous position to retain himself as the ATP world ranking leader for the year.

While de Minaur’s tenacity can hardly be discounted, the Aussie has enjoyed a somewhat bitter-sweet run this year. He has balanced the year quite effortlessly, showcasing his potential to achieve more on the tour with his consistent results across the globe. While he is close to garnering a strong finish to the season, it is worth noting that the Aussie qualified for the year-end event at the 11th hour due to Djokovic’s abrupt withdrawal.

Given Sinner’s current form and motivation to top his accolades with a sweet garnish, de Minaur will have to rely on his defensive play and hope that the Italian commits unforced errors. However, the top seed’s rhythm slims those chances. Subsequently, he is likely to continue his dominant run by ousting the Aussie in the opener.