In an electrifying opening day at the ATP Finals held in Turin, Italy, Carlos Alcaraz embarked on his quest for a maiden title at the prestigious season-ending tournament with a decisive straight-sets victory over Australia’s Alex de Minaur. Alcaraz, the top seed, showcased his determination and skill, overcoming an initially challenging first set to claim his match 7-6 (5), 6-2.
The first set proved to be a back-and-forth affair, with Alcaraz demonstrating his typical aggressive style. Despite leading early and having an opportunity to surge ahead with a 5-1 lead, he faced a resilient De Minaur who fought back, ultimately pushing the set to a tiebreak. In a display of tenacity, Alcaraz rallied from a 3-5 deficit in the tiebreak to clinch the set. His momentum carried into the second set, where he quickly regained control after an early break and dominated the latter stages of the match, finishing it off with a powerful cross-court backhand on his second match point.
Alcaraz’s victory marks the first time he has won his opening match at the ATP Finals, a moment he celebrated with pride. “This tournament is one of the best tournaments we have on tour, without a doubt,” Alcaraz commented after the match. He emphasized the importance of maintaining motivation as the year draws to a close and expressed pride in his current form, which has positioned him to potentially end the season as the world’s No. 1 player.
Meanwhile, the tournament also marked the ATP Finals debut of rising star Ben Shelton, who faced two-time champion Alexander Zverev. In a fiercely competitive match, Zverev triumphed 6-3, 7-6 (6), after a thrilling second set. Shelton started strong, leading with a 4-0 margin in the tiebreaker and having multiple chances to level the match, unfortunately falling short as Zverev capitalized on Shelton’s missed opportunities.
The ATP Finals consist of two groups, with Alcaraz, De Minaur, Taylor Fritz, and Lorenzo Musetti—who stepped in for the injured Novak Djokovic—in the Jimmy Connors group. In the Bjorn Borg group, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Shelton, and Felix Auger-Aliassime are vying for a chance to advance to the semifinals.
With only the top two players from each group moving forward, both Alcaraz and Zverev have set the pace early in the tournament. The competitive atmosphere promises thrilling matches ahead as players battle for the year-end championship and the coveted No. 1 ranking.
