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New Delhi: Carlos Alcaraz began his Nitto ATP Finals campaign in style, putting behind the disappointment of previous years with a confident opening win over Alex de Minaur. The Spaniard defeated the Australian 7-6(5), 6-2, marking his first-ever victory in an opening match of the season-ending championship.
The 22-year-old already had a career-best season in 2025 and looks sharp and motivated right from the start. In his two previous appearances, Alcaraz had stumbled at the first match, losing to Alexander Zverev in 2023 and Casper Ruud in 2024, but this time he had other plans and looked determined to change the story.
After the match, Alcaraz said, “It’s one of the best tournaments we have on Tour. You’re facing the best players in the world, so every win matters. I’ve worked hard to stay motivated and fresh at the end of the season, and I’m happy to start this way.”
The match opened with the Spaniard taking full control as he raced to a 4-1 lead in 25 minutes, but de Minaur, who is known for his relentless defence and speed, fought back and dragged the first set into a tie-break.
It was there that Alcara showed his mental toughness as he recovered twice from mini-breaks and went on a four-point burst to seal the first set. Once the nerves settled, US Open champion took complete control in the second set. His forehand began to fire with precision and his serve clicked into rhythm. The Australian didn’t have answers as Alcaraz built another early lead and this time refusing to let it slip.
The top seed sealed the match in just one hour and forty minutes and admitted, “It was a tough match. Alex is so quick and makes you work for every point, but I’m pleased with how I managed it.”
The victory keeps Alcaraz in strong contention for the Year-End No.1 ranking, an honour he last achieved in 2022. He now needs just 250 more points in Turin to secure the top spot ahead of Jannik Sinner.
With 68 wins and eight titles already won, he remains the man to be beaten. He will next play either Taylor Fritz or Lorenzo Musetti in his second round-robin match in the Jimmy Connors Group.
