ATP Finals: Jannik Sinner thrills home crowd with marathon win over Novak Djokovic

Jannik Sinner delighted his home crowd in Turin on Tuesday night as the Italian sealed a thrilling 7-5, 6-7, 7-6 win over top seed Novak Djokovic at the ATP Finals.

World No 4 Sinner needed a straight-sets victory over Djokovic to to guarantee passage from the Green Group with a match to spare, and while he couldn't quite make it happen he is well positioned to become the first Italian to reach the ATP Finals last four.

"It means a lot to me," said Sinner on court. "When you win against the world number one who has won 24 Grand Slams it's obviously in the top-top."

Fans made an almighty din for Sinner, chanting his name to the rafters once he claimed victory in an exciting, three-hour contest which ran way past midnight at the Pala Alpitour.

Sinner has had the best year of his career and looks to be fulfilling the promise he has long shown, winning four titles this season including the Masters 1000 event in Toronto, and looks on form in Italy.

He made the first breakthrough when he capitalised on Djokovic handing him advantage in game 11 with a double fault, moving 6-5 ahead with a big backhand before claiming the set with a service game to love.

Djokovic pulled level after a bruising second set in which neither player faced a single break point, but after fighting back from 4-2 down in the decider he wilted in the tie-break and ended his winning run at 20 matches.

"In these kinds of matches very few opportunities will be presented and if you don't use them then the other player will," said Djokovic, who is bidding to win for a record seventh time at the year-ending tournament.

"Some you win some you lose. I don't think I've done too many things wrong in terms of my game, he was just more decisive and courageous in the