Turin, Sep 14 (IANS): Russia's Daniil Medvedev and Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas are the second and third singles players to qualify for this year's Nitto ATP Finals, to be held at the Pala Alpitour in Turin from November 14-21, following their showing at the US Open. Both players will compete in the season finale for the third consecutive year.
Medvedev will have a chance to defend his Nitto ATP Finals title one year on from lifting the trophy in London. The Russian claimed his first major crown on Sunday at the US Open, where he ended Serbian Novak Djokovic's pursuit of the Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows.
Earlier in the year, Medvedev climbed to a career-high No. 2 in the ATP Rankings, becoming the first player outside the 'Big Four' of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray to hold a top-two spot since Lleyton Hewitt in July 2005.
The Russian lifted his fourth ATP Masters 1000 trophy in Toronto, and also earned crowns in Marseille and Mallorca. Medvedev is now 47-10 for the season following his run at Flushing Meadows.
"I look forward to trying and defending my title in Turin," Medvedev said. "Italian fans are so passionate, I am sure it will be a great event," he told atptour.com.
Tsitsipas is also a former Nitto ATP Finals champion, having triumphed at the event in 2019. The Greek clawed past former world No. 1 Murray in the first round of the US Open and reached the third round, in which he fell short in a memorable five-setter against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
Tsitsipas leads the ATP Tour with 50 tour-level wins this season, and he has also climbed to a career-high world No. 3. The Greek claimed his maiden Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo, advanced to his first major final at Roland Garros and also claimed an ATP 250 title in Lyon.
"It is great to qualify for Turin so early, I can't wait to play there," Tsitsipas said. "Forming incredible memories in London two years ago has been a highlight in my career."
The first player who qualified for this year's ATP Finals was Djokovic, who won the season's first three majors. This is the 14th time the world No. 1 has qualified for the season finale, and he could equal Federer's record by winning his sixth ATP Finals title.