With just two matches to go in both groups, it looks like Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev are certain to reach the semi-final and the knock out stage of this season’s Nitto ATP Finals being played in Turin.

I’m expecting him to play his best tennis yet here. So we’ll see how it goes. I’m looking forward to it.
” think we’re both very much in good shape right now so hopefully it’s going to be fun to watch. Alexander Zverev

Alex de Minaur and Andrei Rublev currently sit at the bottom of their respective groups have very slim chances of progressing further with two losses to their name already.

The question now is who will progress with them. Today, Thursday, sees Taylor Swift face former champion Daniil Medvedev and the result should establish which one will join Sinner who no doubts aims to make it three wins when he meets De Minaur in the Ilie Nastase Group,

Yesterday, Wednesday, Casper Ruud could have qualified for the last four but couldn’t raise his game to defeat Zverev who now tops the John Newcombe Group following his 7-6(3) 6-3 victory over the Norwegian in the evening session.

Ruud, who beat Carlos Alcaraz in their group opening round encounter will now have to defeat Rublev to keep his hopes of progressing when they face each other on Friday.

Meanwhile Carlos Alcaraz, has seemingly recovered from the illness which affected his opening performance against the Norwegian, to defeat Rublev in the afternoon session yesterday.

The 21-year-old Spaniard took 95-minutes to overcome the gritty Russian and keep his hopes of going through to the weekend’s play alive.

“I surprised myself the way I played today from the baseline,” a beaming Alcaraz said following his win, his first of the week.

“I just tried to be focused on my game and what I had to do and forget that I am not feeling well, I am sick, other stuff. Once you step on the court you have to forget anything you are struggling with outside the court and put your focus on hitting a good forehand, a good backhand.”

Alcaraz made the better start and though he missed two chances to break in the fifth game it wasn’t long before he pulled ahead 4-3 and strung together five consecutive games to dent the Russian’s confidence.

But Rublev managed to recover his composure and while he had chances to breakthrough, the Alcaraz defences held firm, as did his opponent’s.

With neither player able to gain an advantage in that second set it was left to the tiebreaker to decide and there it was Alcaraz who took early control going 5-3 up with a superb backhand running lob. Rublev though, hit back to lead 6-5 but then failed to convert two set points as Alcaraz stormed back to claim the win on his second match point.

(Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)

Turning to the evening match, Ruud was in combative mood and while he battled gamely against Zverev, the German, twice a former champion at the event, was in no mood to give way.

With both players able to hold serve throughout the opening set the eventual tiebreak became crucial in the encounter and it was Zverev’s who was the quicker to get results by gaining two early mini-breaks.

The only break in the match came in the second set and was captured by the German who having edged ahead, was not going to falter.

“I did feel quite good on serve. I do feel like I’m hitting my spots well, also the speed is maybe a bit up from the last few weeks,” Zverev said of his win.

“I thought today’s match was actually better from the baseline than the first match, even though I think Casper’s first serve percentage in the first set must have been up in the 80s.

“[It was a] good match,” Zverev added. “I thought both of us played quite good tennis. I’m happy with the win. I thought maybe it was still a little bit better than the first match, even though the first match was quite good as well.”

And so the scene is set for Friday when Wednesday’s winners face each other to decide the final standings of the Group, Zverev v Alcaraz and Ruud v Rublev.

Looking ahead to that crucial match, Zverev expects Alcaraz to be back to his very best.

“We’ve played some very tough battles this year at Grand Slam events, in the Australia and French Opens, so I’m expecting a tough match,” Zverev told Sky Sports.

“I’m expecting him to play his best tennis yet here. So we’ll see how it goes. I’m looking forward to it.

“I think we’re both very much in good shape right now so hopefully it’s going to be fun to watch.

“But I’m looking forward to Carlos on Friday and then hopefully a few more matches on the weekend.”