Zverev kick-starts hat-trick hunt in Turin with dominant win

Alexander Zverev began his quest for a hat-trick of ATP Finals titles with a clinical 6-4 6-2 win over Marin Cilic on Monday, putting him firmly in contention to reach the semi-finals.

The German, who triumphed in 2018 and 2021, was in imperious form from the off at Turin's Pala Alpitour, breaking the Croatian in the opening game and never looking back.

Cilic, who was making his first appearance at the season-ending tournament since 2018, fought back to level at 4-4 in the first set but Zverev immediately broke again and served out.

Zverev displayed all his trademark aggression, hitting 24 winners in total, including some stunning backhands down the line.

The victory keeps Zverev's hopes of reaching the last four very much alive, with the top two players in each group advancing to the semi-finals.

The 25-year-old, who is bidding to become only the second player after Novak Djokovic to win the title three times in a row, will face Taylor Fritz in his next match on Wednesday.

Cilic, meanwhile, will need to beat Fritz on Tuesday to keep his hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.