The finale of the 2023 ATP season, the Nitto ATP Finals, starts at Turin's Pala Alpitour on Sunday with Novak Djokovic aiming to cap another golden campaign by winning the event for a record-breaking seventh time.
Djokovic, who also captured a seventh Paris Masters title last Sunday, has already won three of the four Grand Slam this season, taking his total to 24, and the world no.1 should take some stopping in the Green Group, where he is joined by Jannik Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune.
The only man to defeat Djokovic in Grand Slam action this season, Wimbledon hero Carlos Alcaraz, is the top seed in a Red Group also featuring Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev.
After three rounds of round-robin matches over the first six days, the top two from each section will progress to the semi-finals next Saturday with the champion crowned the following day.
- Jannik Sinner to win the ATP Finals
- Andrey Rublev to win the Red Group
Improving Italian Ready To Shock Djok
After success at the Paris Masters, Djokovic will be primed for a crack at a seventh title and there's no denying that the Serb is the one to beat in Italy after claiming this title last season.
However, Djokovic is a heavy favourite again this week and, with two progressing from each section, an each-way bet on Jannik Sinner could be the better option at more attractive odds.
The 22-year-old, who was born in Northern Italy and is based just across the border in Monaco, has focused on incremental improvement and that's really starting to pay dividends with Sinner rising to a career-high fourth in the world following titles in Canada, China and Vienna since August.
Injury denied him a first proper crack at the ATP Finals last season but, prior to that, he wowed the crowd as an alternate in 2021, stepping in for compatriot Matteo Berrettini to beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-2 6-2 and pushing Daniil Medvedev all the way in a 6-0 6-7 7-6 defeat.
Two years later, Sinner is a much more dangerous proposition and his decision to withdraw from the Paris Masters could prove a masterstroke for a player who has struggled with fitness in the past.
He can win two of three matches and, at the very least, bag the each-way money before a possible second meeting with Djokovic in the final.
JANNIK SINNER TO WIN THE ATP FINALS
Rublev Value For Red Group Honours
The Red Group looks particularly competitive with Alcaraz struggling for form and fitness and without a tournament win since beating Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.
The Spaniard is the top seed in the section but Medvedev and Zverev, who fought out the 2021 ATP Finals final, are both capable of causing him problems on current form.
The best bet to win the Red Group, however, could be Rublev, who reached the semi-finals of the Tour Finals for the first time last season, losing out to Casper Ruud.
The Russian made the Shanghai final, losing out to Hurkacz, then he found only Sinner too strong in Vienna before pushing Djokovic all the way in a pulsating semi-final in Paris.
ANDREY RUBLEV TO WIN THE RED GROUP
