Despite all odds, Alex de Minaur will face Jannik Sinner in the ATP Finals semi-final. The Aussie lost the opening two matches of this week's year-ending event, increasing his terrible score at this tournament to 0-5!
However, Alex recovered from a terrible loss to Lorenzo Musetti and bested Taylor Fritz 7-6, 6-3 for his first ATP Finals triumph. As it turned out, it was enough to propel him into the semi-final after outplaying the American by a single game.
Thus, Musetti became the third player in the ATP Finals history to move into the last four in this round-robin format after earning only one victory in the group stage.
To set that stage, someone has to win all three matches, with the remaining three players splitting victories among themselves. Then, the most efficient competitor in terms of sets and games among those threewith a 1-2 score prevails.
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In 2006, we had such a scenario for the first time in Shanghai. Roger Federer won the Red Group, and the other three players stood on a 1-2 record. David Nalbandian fell to Federer and Ivan Ljubicic from a set up.
He defeated Andy Roddick in straight sets in th final round-robin match and reached the semi-final with a 4-4 score in sets. Ten years later, Kei Nishikori mirrored that feat in the John McEnroe Group in London.
Andy Murray claimed all three wins and left Stan Wawrinka, Marin Cilic and Nishikori to battle for the second spot. They traded wins between themselves, and Kei moved through with a 4-4 sets score.
Interestingly, both Nalbandian and Nishikori fell in the semi-final in straight sets. Alex de Minaur will have to work hard to avoid that on Saturday, facing the defending champion Jannik Sinner.
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The Aussie is 0-12 against the Italian. He will try to challenge the world's best indoor player following a massive chance he got, hoping to cause a stunner and extend his incredible Turin journey.
