Alcaraz Opens ATP Finals with Win, Keeps No. 1 Ranking Hope Alive
Carlos Alcaraz began his campaign at the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin with a 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory over Alex de Minaur today, bolstering his chances of finishing the year as the world’s top-ranked player.
The top-seeded Alcaraz faced a challenging first set against the seventh-seeded De Minaur, overcoming a 5-3 deficit in the tie-break to secure the opening set. He then dominated the second set, demonstrating the form that led him to a stellar season, including a title win at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam. This result is crucial as Alcaraz is battling Jannik Sinner for the year-end No. 1 ranking; Sinner is defending his title from last year, adding pressure to his performance this week.
Despite a mid-set wobble where De Minaur fought back from 4-1 down, Alcaraz maintained his composure. “I think he was playing much better in the tie-break,” Alcaraz said. “So I just tried to stay strong mentally, just to stay focused on the next point, stay focused on the goals that I had to chase in the match.” Alcaraz’s ability to regain focus under pressure has become a hallmark of his game, and is a key factor in his success. For more information on the ATP rankings and how they work, visit the official ATP Tour rankings page.
Alexander Zverev also secured a win today, defeating Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (6). Alcaraz will next face the winner of Monday’s match between Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti, while Sinner begins his title defense against Félix Auger-Aliassime on Monday. You can find the full tournament schedule here.
