Carlos Alcaraz Battles Past Taylor Fritz to Stay Unbeaten at ATP Finals 2025:

World number one Carlos Alcaraz showcased his fighting spirit as he battled past American Taylor Fritz 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-3 in a thrilling round-robin encounter at the ATP Finals 2025 in Turin. The victory keeps the Spaniard unbeaten in the Jimmy Connors Group, moving him a step closer to securing both a semifinal spot and the coveted year-end world No. 1 ranking. Last year’s finalist Taylor Fritz produced an inspired performance, matching Alcaraz shot for shot in what was arguably the best contest of the tournament so far. The American started strong, firing aces and dominating the rallies. The opening set saw both players exchange early breaks before Fritz took control of the tiebreak, racing to a 5-2 lead and closing it out with two thunderous aces. “It was pretty tight. I was struggling more than him in the first set,” Alcaraz admitted afterward. “I wasn’t serving well, and he was pretty comfortable from the baseline, from everywhere.” In the second set, the tension mounted as Alcaraz faced multiple break points and struggled with his rhythm. His usually lethal drop shots began to falter, and frustration crept in. However, true to his reputation, the 22-year-old Spaniard refused to back down. He fought through long rallies, saving crucial points and slowly turning the momentum in his favor. At 6-5, a fortunate net cord helped Alcaraz clinch the set, leveling the match and igniting the Turin crowd. Fritz, who had poured everything into the first two sets, began to show signs of fatigue in the decider. His serve lost its sharpness, while Alcaraz found his rhythm and began dictating play. The world number one broke for a 4-2 lead and never looked back, wrapping up the match in two hours and 48 minutes by serving out to love. “I was really relieved after the win because of everything I went through during the match,” Alcaraz said. “I wasn’t feeling the ball as well as I was in the first round, but I’m really happy that I found a way to come back.” With this victory, Alcaraz now holds two wins from two matches in the group stage. If Alex de Minaur defeats Lorenzo Musetti in the evening match, Alcaraz will be guaranteed a place in the semifinals. The Spaniard will also face Musetti on Thursday, needing one more victory to lock in the year-end No. 1 ranking. “I try not to think about it, to be honest,” Alcaraz said about the ranking. “Obviously, it’s going to be a really big match for me. I’ll try to control the emotions, to control myself.” Alcaraz’s performance was far from flawless, but his ability to grind through tough moments and find solutions under pressure once again showed why he’s the best in the world. With two group wins and his sights set on the semifinals, the young Spaniard remains the man to beat in Turin.

SPORT