The 2024 Nitto ATP Finals kicks off Sunday in Turin with two singles matches and two doubles matches between the game’s very best in the Inalpi Arena.
The Ilie Nastase Group will begin singles play on Day 1, with Italy’s Jannik Sinner taking on debutatant Alex de Minaur in the evening session, after Daniil Medvedev meets Taylor Fritz during the day session.
Day 1 doubles action will begin with Nikola Mektic and
Wesley Koolhof taking on Aussies Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson, before Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos play Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.
No one at the Nitto ATP Finals has the luxury of playing his way into form in Turin. That’s doubly true for De Minaur, who drew Sinner — already confirmed as the year-end No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings — as the opening assignment of his maiden campaign at the season finale.
The Aussie will hope Sunday is a day of firsts in more ways than one. In addition to making his Nitto ATP Finals debut, the 25-year-old will be bidding for his first Lexus ATP Head2Head victory in eight tries against Sinner.
“It is not rocket science, but you have to be ready from the word go. It doesn’t get any harder than starting against Jannik,” De Minaur said after the draw. “From the very start, I need to be ready, I need to compete. It is going to be a great experience. A great challenge. But this is where I have wanted to be all these years.”
As a reward for his breakthrough into the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings this season, De Minaur earned a place among the game’s best in Turin. Even among that elite group, Sinner’s season stands out. The Italian racked up 65 wins and a tour-leading seven titles in 2024, including his first two major titles at the Australian Open and the US Open .
Perhaps the only thing missing for the Italian this year? Competing in his home nation. Sinner missed the Rome ATP Masters 1000 with a hip injury, making his Turin return even more significant.
“Many things make [this tournament] special,” Sinner told ATP Media on Thursday. “First of all, being an Italian and playing in Italy. I haven’t played in Italy this year, because I missed Rome. That was a really tough one, but I am even more excited and happy to be here.”
The evening showdown between Sinner and De Minaur will see perhaps the game’s purest ballstriker attempt to hit through one of the most dogged defenders in the sport. While De Minaur is more than capable of taking the action to Sinner, his ability to “steal” points from defence will be key in his upset bid. According to Tennis Data Innovations, De Minaur won 38.5 per cent of points this year in which his opponent gains an attacking advantage. That ability will be put to the test on Sunday evening.
