Carlos Alcaraz launched his ATP Finals campaign with a confident 7-6(5), 6-2 victory over Alex de Minaur in Turin, keeping his bid for the year-end No.1 ranking alive. The Spaniard, who is competing in the season-ending tournament for the first time, faced early resistance in a tense opening set but eventually found his rhythm to secure the straight-sets win.
Alcaraz has yet to capture an ATP Finals title, and the indoor hard-court event has historically been a challenge for him. His only indoor triumph this season came at the ATP 500 Rotterdam event, while his semi-final finish in 2023 remains his best showing at the year-end tournament. Nevertheless, the 21-year-old appeared mentally and physically refreshed, demonstrating resilience during the crucial tie-break in the first set.
The match saw Alcaraz storm to a 4-1 lead in the opening set, putting de Minaur on the defensive. However, the Australian mounted a fightback, eventually pushing the set into a tie-break. With his back against the wall, Alcaraz elevated his game, winning the last four points to claim the set and maintain momentum into the second. He then dominated the following set, showing the aggressive, high-intensity style that has propelled him to the top of the rankings.
Alcaraz will next face the winner of the group-stage clash between Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti, who play on Monday. Musetti enters the tournament having just contested the Athens final, which allows him an extra day of rest before facing Fritz. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner, who is defending his ATP Finals title, opens his campaign against Félix Auger-Aliassime.
The tournament’s third seed, Alexander Zverev, also recorded a first-round win, defeating debutant Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(6). Zverev overcame a challenging second-set tie-break, where Shelton held a 6-3 lead, to secure the victory and maintain his position as a contender for the title.
Alcaraz’s commanding start sets the tone for what could be a dramatic battle for the year-end No.1 ranking. With the group stage underway, fans can expect high-intensity matches as the top players aim to secure their place in the semi-finals and, ultimately, the championship.
