Carlos Alcaraz showcased his trademark resilience and brilliance to defeat Taylor Fritz in a thrilling three-set encounter at the ATP Finals in Turin.
The Spanish sensation fought back from a set down to win 6-7 (2-7), 7-5, 6-3, moving within one victory of securing the year-end world number one ranking.
In a gripping two-hour and 48-minute duel, both players delivered elite tennis, with extended rallies and bold shot-making captivating the Italian crowd. Although Alcaraz now holds back-to-back wins, he must wait to confirm his semi-final spot due to Lorenzo Musetti’s remarkable victory over Alex de Minaur.
The Italian, roared on by his home fans, clawed back from 5-3 down in the decider to prevail 7-5, 3-6, 7-5. Musetti’s energy and emotion electrified the arena as he kept his semi-final hopes alive. His triumph means Alcaraz must now beat Musetti on Thursday to clinch both the world No. 1 title and a semi-final berth.
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Alcaraz shows class against inspired Fritz
Despite a slow start, Alcaraz displayed composure and tactical brilliance to overturn Fritz’s early advantage. The American, who reached last year’s final, looked sharp and aggressive, taking the opening set in a tight tie-break after 70 minutes of fierce exchanges.
However, Alcaraz, as he has done countless times before, dug deep when it mattered most. Saving multiple break points in a marathon fifth game of the second set, he fed off the crowd’s energy to stay alive.
When Fritz faltered late with a double fault, Alcaraz pounced — and never looked back.
Although Fritz continued to serve strongly, maintaining an impressive 75% first-serve rate, Alcaraz’s relentless pressure eventually broke him down. The Spaniard sealed the decisive break at 4-2 in the final set before producing a stunning overhead backhand drop shot that brought fans to their feet.
Reflecting on the hard-fought win, Alcaraz admitted the battle tested his limits. “It was tight. I felt I was struggling more than him,” he said. “I’m really happy I found a way to come back and find his weaknesses.”
Tags: Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, ATP Finals, Turin, Lorenzo Musetti, Alex de Minaur.
