The ATP World Tour Finals look to be building towards a potentially special ending, but it has not been the best four days for the fans.
Very little drama has been seen within matches and we have yet to have one match go the distance in the Singles draw.
Big matches are coming up with places in the Semi Final still open to all eight players that have begun this event and that is perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the end of the Group Stage. Things could change very quickly as matches continue to be completed, but it should mean we have focused players heading onto the Turin courts with so much still to play for as the season winds down.
Taylor Fritz - 2.5 games v Alex De Minaur: The situation is pretty clear for Taylor Fritz with a single match left in the Group and that begins and end with winning this match.
He cannot secure passage into the Semi Final until the result from the other match in the Group is confirmed, but Fritz can put himself in a strong position if he is able to win this one in straight sets. The 'easier' the scoreboard win looks, the more likely he is to make it through to the Semi Final, which was the minimum ambition the American set for himself when the World Tour Finals began.
However, this is far from a foregone conclusion and that is because Taylor Fritz has had a tough time when facing up to Alex De Minaur.
The Australian has won their last couple of matches, both on the hard courts, and Alex De Minaur has not been eliminated from the tournament despite losing both matches in the Group in straight sets. His margin for error is much smaller than Taylor Fritz in the fact that Alex De Minaur needs to win this one in straight sets and hope Jannik Sinner is able to beat Daniil Medvedev in straight sets and even then it will come to percentage of games won.
The maths takes a bit of working out, but De Minaur's sole focus has to be winning in straight sets and you do have to wonder how he will be able to pick himself up if he is to drop either of the first two sets played. It is a sport in which the focus is on the court once a player is there, but you have to believe it is a potential factor that Alex De Minaur will perhaps fade if he is not able to progress.
His performances in Turin have been a little disappointing with Alex De Minaur really struggling to have much of an impact on the return, which is a key part of his tennis. Only ONE Break Point has been fashioned in two matches and De Minaur has won less than 21% of return points played, which is a problem when facing someone with the serving capability of Taylor Fritz.
In recent matches between the players, Alex De Minaur has been able to get enough back into play on the return to frustrate his opponent and extract errors from the Taylor Fritz side of the court. You have to think this will be the game plan again, but Alex De Minaur also needs to really pick up his level on the serve if he is going to upset the odds against the American again.
The head to head has to give anyone pause for thought.
However, Taylor Fritz has played the stronger tennis in Turin this week and he should have enough to work his way past this awkward opponent and move into a decent position to Qualify for the Semi Final on Saturday.
Jannik Sinner - 3.5 games v Daniil Medvedev: The big question on Thursday has to be 'which Daniil Medvedev is going to be heading out onto the court for this vital last Group match?'
He did not play badly against Taylor Fritz, but was pretty well beaten at the end and looked like he was not having any kind of fun on the court. A lingering injury had been bothering Daniil Medvedev and his behaviour suggested he might already have checked out of the World Tour Finals after a single Group match had been played.
Two days later, Daniil Medvedev dominated Alex De Minaur and was a very comfortable winner against the Australian, which has also reignited his push to make the Semi Final at this tournament.
Of course he is facing the World Number 1 and the home favourite in this final Group match and a player that has really dominated the head to head between these two in recent times.
Jannik Sinner has won both matches in straight sets, but surprisingly that has not been enough to confirm passage into the Semi Final. By the time this match is scheduled to be played, Sinner's place in the next Round may be secured and both of these players will have eyes on the other match in the Group played earlier in the day.
For Sinner the scenario is pretty clear- no matter what happens in the other match, winning one set in this final match would take him through and as Group Winner. Of course winning this match makes for the easiest scenario, while there is a chance that a heavy, straight sets defeat in this Group match would potentially eliminate Jannik Sinner if Taylor Fritz has crushed Alex De Minaur in straight sets earlier in the day.
Those game permutations are much more convoluted than the sets breakdown, but it may be something Daniil Medvedev is also working on. He can progress with a straight sets win as long as Taylor Fritz has not won in straight sets too, while a loss may still give Medvedev an opportunity if Alex De Minaur has beaten Taylor Fritz earlier in the day, although the World Number 4 will likely need to win a set.
It is all a little messy with each match in the Group won and lost in straight sets, but Jannik Sinner looks very focused this week and he can beat Daniil Medvedev in this last Group match, even if a Semi Final spot has been achieved.
Jannik Sinner has been serving at a very high level in this event and that will build pressure on Daniil Medvedev if the shoulder is still feeling a little sore. There has also been a definite edge with the World Number 1 when it comes to the return of serve, while the multiple wins racked up over Medvedev, including in very big settings, will only aid the confidence further.
He beat Daniil Medvedev in four sets at the US Open and since then Jannik Sinner has crushed the same opponent in Shanghai and in the exhibition tournament held in Saudi Arabia (exhibition in terms of being a Ranking event, the money on offer made it plenty serious).
In his current form, it is really hard to look past Jannik Sinner franking those hard court victories with another in front of the home crowd, even if a place in the Semi Final has been secured by the result from the other Group match.
Daniil Medvedev had a bit more focus in his win over Alex De Minaur, but that has been a better match up than facing the World Number 1 and we may see the Russian quickly lose hope in this one. He does become very motivated when the crowd get on his back, but there is every chance that Medvedev will fall away in this one and Jannik Sinner can secure a third straight win to really push his credentials as a potential Champion of the event this weekend.
MY PICKS: Taylor Fritz - 2.5 Games @ 1.66 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Jannik Sinner - 3.5 Games @ 1.66 Bet365 (1 Unit)
World Tour Finals Update: 5-3, + 0.92 Units (8 Units Staked, + 11.50% Yield)
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