Jannik Sinner v Holger Rune - result from the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals in Turin as table-topping Sinner knocks out Rune and hands Novak Djokovic a reprieve

It’s three wins out three for Jannik Sinner as he tops Green Group with a hard-fought two-hour and 32-minute success over another rising star who is set to be a big rival for years to come!

The Italian No.1 serves out to 30 to dump Holger Rune out of the tournament and give six-time champion Novak Djokovic a reprieve that sees them both qualify for the weekend’s semi finals.

Sinner was a class above in the opening set but Rune worked his way back into the contest, turning it into a high calibre NextGen tussle. However, Jannik edged a decisive break at the death to claim a first ever success over the Dane.

That could be curtains for Holger.

Sinner gets lucky with a net cord off a forehand that Rune can’t adjust to and the Dane fires into the net to feel the heat at 0-30.

The Italian lets rip on a return to his opponent’s feet and suddenly he’s got triple break point in his favour.

Rune doggedly saves two but is undone by a delicious, low volley on the charge from Sinner, who will now serve for the match.

Rune works his way back from 30-0 down with real elasticity and resilience but then slices into the net when it looked like he was getting on top in the rally.

He sinks to his knees briefly but produces some nice variety in the heights of his shots in the next rally to lure a backhand into the net from the Italian and make deuce.

This time it’s Sinner’s turn to lament some poor play to his team but Holger lets him off the break point with a howler of a miscue on a return off a tame second serve.

Sinner produces a clutch serve to wrestle the momentum his way and Rune flashes long to send the Italian crowd into a roar of delight. All square!

Full speed ahead, next stop: the business end of this deciding set.

Rune follows suit with an equally rampant service game, nailing his 15th ace of the contest to nudge the board in his favour once more.

Sinner brings the heat on serve, corking a10th ace of the night down the T and wasting little time in levelling up via another love hold.

Sinner presses from the off and clocks up a break point with a sizzling backhand up the line after a 13th ace had pulled Rune back to 30-30.

The Scandinavian comes up with a beauty of a 1-2 punch to make deuce and again delivers the goods from there when a 14th ace is followed by a forehand into the net from Jannik.

Rune tries to turn the screw with a wonderful crosscourt forehand but Sinner comes surging back with a backhand pass, a drive volley and a hefty first serve to level things up.

At 40-15 up Rune goes for a Hollywood tweener lob that looks unnecessary. It drops long and Sinner scorches a crosscourt bullet to press at deuce and turn what looked like being a routine game into one of real drama.

The Dane then buckles with a failure on a backhand into the net off an attempted one-two punch and is faced with BP.

A delicious and brave forehand up the line wipes it out before we have some real controversy.

Rune has a challenge on a serve ruled out by the umpire who claims he was too late. Holger isn’t having it and asks for a video review. The umpire sticks with her decision and there’s a heated exchange before Rune is forced to get on with it.

The stakes are high but he delivers a timely 10th ace to swat away a second break point, but there’s still no easy way out from there.

A real cat and mouse face-off at deuce prolongs what now feels like a big game further before a clutch serve is followed by an 11th ace to drag Rune through a real test.

Sinner’s overall fitness may be under scrutiny right now, but his forehand looks pretty good as he thunders a crosscourt winner with laser-like precision to lead 40-15.

However, his movement and timing isn’t as effortless as it seemed and a drop-shot fail gives Holger hope at deuce.

The Dane can’t make anything of it though as a horrible miscue off the forehand is followed by a return long and Jannik heaves himself on to the board.

Holger rides the momentum into Set 3 as he slaps down aces eight and nine to close-out a sharp love hold and seize the scoreboard advantage.

Sinner has won the opening set and gone on to lose the match in each of their previous two matches.

Will it be same again here or can he break that pattern?

Is there an issue with Sinner’s fitness? He’s struggling on the backhand right now and Rune has noticed it.

The Dane peppers that wing and lures the errors to clock up three set points.

Sinner saves two with a couple of crosscourt forehand winners but Holger comes up with a magnificent stretch pass and then follows up with a classy lob to snatch the set and push us into a decider.

Rune mixes up a bewitching rally with a devilish drop shot and just about rushes Jannik into the error on the pick-up.

Sinner retorts with one of his own and then looks to press at deuce when Rune drills a low backhand into the net.

The Dane responds with a clutch serve and then stun volleys his way out of danger with Sinner locked in his forehand corner.

Well, there’s no sign of any niggle there as Sinner produces a sumptuous slice, drop volley enc route to another clinic of a love hold.