Italy’s Sinner have warned that Alex de Minaur “doesn’t have much to lose” in their semi-final.
Sinner advanced to the last four without dropping a set or a service game, demonstrating his clinical touch against Shelton by converting two of his three break point chances in the first set and sealing victory in the tie-break with his second match point.
He was efficient in serving throughout the match, shutting down Shelton’s only break point – he has now saved all eight he faced in Turin – and conceding just seven points in six service games in the second set.
The 24-year-old, who is aiming for a third consecutive appearance in the end-of-season showpiece final, boasts a 12-0 record against seventh-seeded De Minaur but is unwilling to underestimate the Australian, who upset Taylor Fritz to take second place in the Jimmy Connors Group.
“I’m very happy with it [De Minaur]Sinner said. ‘Props to him for coming back with that performance [against Fritz]. It’s one of the best games I’ve seen him play.
“I have to be very careful; he doesn’t have much to lose. It will be very difficult.”
In doubles, a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 win for Henry Patten and his Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara over Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic means five British players will be in the semi-finals – the most from one country since 1992.
British duo Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, who had already qualified, maintained their 100% record with a 7-5 6-3 win against Christian Harrison and Evan King and will face fellow countrymen and year-end number one Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool in the last four.
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