3 minute read

Teenage Italian Jannik Sinner has reached his first ATP Tour final at the Sofia Open at the age of just 19 and will meet Canada's Vasek Pospisil for the title.

Teenager Jannik Sinner has become the youngest Italian in the Open Era to reach the final of an ATP Tour event after surging past Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-3 7-5 in the semi-finals of the Sofia Open.

Sinner will play Vasek Pospisil, who had knocked out Australian John Millman in the quarter-finals, in the championship match after the Canadian had come from a set down to beat France's Richard Gasquet 6-7 (8-6) 6-2 6-0.

The 19-year-old Sinner saved all three break points he faced and converted his only two break points to make another breakthrough in his burgeoning career.

Sinner becomes the youngest ATP Tour singles finalist since Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in last year's Mercedes Cup and could become the youngest winner since Kei Nishikori 12 years ago at the Delray Beach Open.

"It is nice to be in the final, playing one more match which, for me, is the most important," Sinner told the official ATP website.

"Today I felt quite well on court and it is good for me playing my first final this year. I am looking forward to tomorrow."

Sinner, who defeated Alex de Minaur, the Australian No.1, in the last eight, had lost his first two tour-level semi-finals but he largely dictated against Mannarino with his searing forehands.

Sinner has made progress swiftly this summer, capitalising on his triumph at the Next Gen ATP Finals by reaching the French Open quarter-finals and moving into the world's top 50.

The youngest man in the top 100, he will move to No.37 if he wins his maiden final.

In the other semi-final, Pospisil won 11 straight games to reach his second final of the year and powered down 19 aces.

The two finalists have never faced each other before.