Jannik Sinner signs autographs for fans on Nov 7 as he prepares to compete at the ATP Finals in Turin. TURIN – World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy is trying to end an eventful season in the perfect fashion, as he returns to home soil as the huge favourite for his first ATP Finals title.
The 23-year-old arrives in Turin at the end of a sensational campaign in which he was victorious at the Australian and US Opens – his first Grand Slam triumphs – and won five more ATP titles. He is seeking a first-ever title at the season-ending Nov 10-17 tournament and has come a long way since losing the 2023 final to Novak Djokovic, pushing on to become world No. 1 and a national hero.
Sinner is the first Italian to top the men’s world rankings and ended his country’s 48-year men’s Grand Slam title drought, and he finished the “Race To Turin” with more than 10,330 points. That total is more than 3,000 points more than his closest rival Alexander Zverev, highlighting just how dominant he has been in 2024. However, he has been dogged by controversy after twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March but being allowed to continue playing.
He was initially cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency in August but at the end of September the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed, seeking a ban of up to two years. “We don’t know anything yet (about the appeal),” Sinner, who has denied any wrongdoing, told reporters on Nov 7. “It’s not a pleasura.