Jannik Sinner will be the home crowd favorite at the 2023 ATP Finals in Turin, where he is set to make his proper full debut as a qualifying contender.
Sinner played at this event as an alternate a couple of years ago, replacing his compatriot Matteo Berrettini. The 22-year-old will attempt to become the first Italian man to win the prestigious ATP Finals after a career-best season on tour saw him soar into a career-high ranking of No. 4. Can Sinner go all the way? Here are five reasons why he could end that wait.
Last year and for half of this season, Sinner has brushed off claims that he belongs in the same group as Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner's talent was absolute, and he stood on the doorstep of a breakthrough win since he shot up in the rankings until he finally was able to break it down this season.
Sinner has not only unlocked his potential, but he's now a major contender at the biggest tournaments. His record against the Top 8 this season is not shabby, having beaten five of them at least once this season, suggesting he has improved his mental approach to these matchups.
Sinner has the advantage that this tournament is being held on home soil, and his opponents are guaranteed a near-partisan atmosphere.
Sinner's famous band of fans called the "Carota Boys" will be popular with the general public in Turin. Andy Murray once won the ATP Finals when it was held in London, so the crowd can have a massive effect on Sinner's matches.
Sinner will be one of two players attempting to complete the Next Gen & ATP Finals double. Only Stefanos Tsitsipas has pulled off this feat, which proves it is totally within reach for Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the other players in the running.
Sinner's experience of winning a year-end tournament should give him immense confidence and put him in good stead.
Since his fourth-round exit at the US Open, Sinner has gone on a rampage, winning 13 of his last 14 completed matches, and sweeping two of the biggest titles on offer.
We'll never know how much damage he could have done at the Paris Masters, but he enters the ATP Finals this year in supreme form. In fact, no player has won more matches than the Italian in autumn.
Jannik Sinner has compiled a 13-1 record on indoor hard courts this season, beating the likes of Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Novak Djokovic remains the only man with a 100% winning record under the roof this year, but he has only played one tournament. Sinner, by contrast, has played in four tournaments. It would be foolhardy not to back him to win it all.