MATS WILANDER MAKES ANDY MURRAY AND JANNIK SINNER COMPARISON AHEAD OF ATP FINALS IN TURIN – ‘BIG TIME, BIG PLAYER’

Eurosport expert Mats Wilander has labelled world No. 1 Jannik Sinner the hot favourite to lift the ATP World Tour Finals title on home soil in Turin, and believes that the Italian can harness the home support in a similar way to Andy Murray at Wimbledon. The Swede also called the two-time major champion a “big-time, big player”, something he did not foresee in Sinner’s early years.

Eurosport expert Mats Wilander has backed “big-time, big player” Jannik Sinner to win the ATP World Tour Finals in Turin.
The season-ending tournament takes place on Italian soil, and will suit the world No. 1 down to a tee as he settles in for a home event.

Sinner avoided Carlos Alcaraz in the group phase, drawn in the opposite group to the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion.

Instead, Alcaraz will play the world No. 2, Alexander Zverev, who has shot up the rankings thanks to his recent title at the Paris Masters, where Alcaraz was stunned by Ugo Humbert in the round of 16.
Sinner has not played since the ‘King of Kings’ tournament in Saudi Arabia, as he preserves his fitness and energy for the big season finale in Turin, where Novak Djokovic will not compete due to injury.
Eurosport pundit Wilander believes that Sinner is the “big favourite” heading into the tournament, but that there will be plenty of pressure on the 23-year-old in front of his home crowd. The Swede suggested that Sinner could harness it, though, in the same way that Andy Murray did to win Wimbledon.
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“Jannik Sinner is the big favourite,” Wilander said.
“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 [Djokovic] 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. 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.
“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. 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.
“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.”