Jannik Sinner battles past Holger Rune to top group and send Novak Djokovic into ATP Finals semi-finals

Jannik Sinner beat Holger Rune to ensure Novak Djokovic would join him in the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals.

If Rune had won then he would have reached the semi-finals and eliminated Djokovic. However, it was Sinner who delighted his home crowd with a battling 6-2 5-7 6-4 win.

Sinner finishes the group stage with a perfect 3-0 record and is the first Italian to reach the last four of the ATP Finals.

“I never won against [Rune], so I really tried my best. I started off really well. In the second, he served better, he moved better, so it was a much more even match.

“The third set could have gone his way. At 4-3 I saved a break point. It was a little bit of a roller coaster today, but obviously really happy, and happy to be in the semis.”

There had been some suggestions that Sinner might be tempted by the idea of losing to Rune so he wouldn’t have to face Djokovic again at the tournament.

But any thought of that was quickly dismissed as Sinner made a flying start, breaking twice to secure a 4-0 lead.

Rune got on the board but Sinner responded with a love hold, winning a point when passing Rune at the net at the third attempt and then firing off a forehand winner.

Sinner took the set in 32 minutes as Rune netted a backhand.

Rune fought back at the start of the second set and brought up his first break point with a couple of forehand winners.

Sinner avoided being broken with some strong serving, but then passed up a chance to break in the next game.

He fired down a love hold to make it 3-3 after Rune received treatment for his knee, which was taped.

Sinner then appeared bothered by a back issue which seemed to impact him as he fell 0-40 behind at 6-5 down. Sinner saved two set points but Rune took the third to level the match.

It looked as though Rune might have the momentum as he started the deciding set with a love hold.

But Rune had to dig deep in a lengthy third game, saving two break points, the first with a forehand winner on the baseline and the second with an ace, and then fended off another break point at 2-2.

Sinner held under pressure at 4-4 before breaking the next game with a brilliant volley.

He was taken to 30-30 as he tried to serve it out but managed to get over the line to seal a 3-0 record in the group stage and send Rune home.