Carlos Alcaraz has reaffirmed his status at the top of men’s tennis after wrapping up the year-end world No 1 ranking with another ruthless display at the ATP Finals.
The Spaniard reached the knockout stages with three straight wins, and he sealed his achievement with a commanding 6-4, 6-1 victory over Lorenzo Musetti.
Although he had already secured a semi-final place before stepping on court, he nevertheless chased the ranking with visible hunger, as he outperformed the Italian in front of a packed Turin crowd.
The 22-year-old erupted with emotion after the win, because it capped a remarkable late-season charge in his competitive rivalry with Jannik Sinner. Although Sinner had built a strong early lead in the rankings race, Alcaraz closed the gap with a powerful surge across the final tournaments.
He admitted that number one felt distant at the beginning of the campaign, especially with Sinner winning relentlessly, yet he stayed close enough to strike when the Italian finally slowed.
2025 is Alcaraz’s most successful year so far
His triumph also carried another milestone because the victory marked his 70th match win of the season, making 2025 his most successful year yet.
In addition, he has captured eight titles, including two Grand Slams, which equals his total number of losses. By topping the Jimmy Connors Group, Alcaraz avoided a semi-final showdown with Sinner and instead awaits the winner between Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Their parallel dominance has, moreover, fueled growing anticipation of a blockbustre final.
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Musetti had arrived backed by a passionate home crowd, and he attempted to build on the momentum from his epic win over Alex de Minaur. Although the Italian matched Alcaraz early, he eventually faded under the Spaniard’s precision and intensity.
The pivotal moment came during an absorbing 11-minute game late in the first set, where Alcaraz’s pressure finally overwhelmed his opponent. While Musetti continued battling through fatigue and fought off early threats in the second set, Alcaraz broke to love for a 3-1 lead and never looked back.
De Minaur’s emotional revival adds depth to the ATP Finals storyline
Elsewhere, De Minaur delivered his own dramatic arc, as he recovered from what he called a “dark place” following his heartbreaking loss to Musetti. Because he needed a straight-sets win to stay alive, he approached his clash with Taylor Fritz with renewed clarity.
His 7-6, 6-3 victory impressed the crowd, especially as he had previously lost 16 straight matches against top-10 opponents. Although the news of his qualification depended on Alcaraz’s win, he hesitated to believe it at first.
However, his performance marked an emotional breakthrough, because he committed fully and backed himself throughout the match. Before leaving the court, he wrote “finally” on the camera lens, capturing his sense of relief.
Tags: Carlos Alcaraz, year-end No.1 ranking, ATP Finals, Jannik Sinner, Alex De Minaur, Lorenzo Musetti, Alexander Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime.
