Alcaraz surges past De Minaur in Turin opener
Carlos Alcaraz shakes off early jitters to claim a straight-sets victory over Alex de Minaur, fueling his drive for a first Nitto ATP Finals title and a return to year-end No. 1.
In the charged atmosphere of Turin's Inalpi Arena, Carlos Alcaraz launched his Nitto ATP Finals campaign with a hard-fought 7-6(5), 6-2 win over Alex de Minaur. The top seed, riding high from a season of 68 victories and eight titles, finally notched an opening-round triumph after defeats to Alexander Zverev in 2023 and Casper Ruud in 2024 had dimmed his end-of-year prospects. This performance, blending raw power with sharpened focus, signaled a mental reset as he eyes a maiden crown and the 250 points needed to reclaim ATP Year-End No. 1 honors from rival Jannik Sinner—a position he last held in 2022.
Erasing shadows of prior setbacks
Alcaraz stepped onto the indoor hardcourt with a renewed edge, the crowd's anticipation buzzing like the squeak of shoes on the swift surface. De Minaur, known for his blistering speed, pressed early with deep returns that tested the Spaniard's serve, but Alcaraz countered with inside-out forehands that stretched his opponent wide. The arena's lights cast sharp shadows on the baseline, mirroring the intensity as Alcaraz built a 4-1 lead at 40/0 in just 25 minutes, his one–two combinations of serve and groundstroke slicing through the air with precision.
Yet De Minaur clawed back, his flat crosscourt shots exploiting the low bounce to force errors and level the set. Alcaraz's determination shone through, refusing to let the momentum slip entirely as the tiebreak loomed. This early swing captured the psychological stakes, with the Spaniard drawing on off-court preparation to steady his nerves amid the pressure of redemption.
First Match Under Wraps! @carlosalcaraz kick-starts his 2025 #NittoATPFinals campaign with a straight sets win over De Minaur pic.twitter.com/6qqfQMniGY
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 9, 2025
“This tournament is one of the best tournaments we have on Tour, without a doubt,” Alcaraz said. “We’re playing against the best players in the world, which shows how difficult and important it is. I’ve been struggling in the past few years to come to the end of the year with motivation. This year is a little bit different, which I’m proud about [as] I’m doing the right things to give myself a shot to try and win this tournament.”
Clutching the tiebreak turning point
The opener's tiebreak became a microcosm of Alcaraz's resilience, as he twice rallied from mini-break deficits against De Minaur's relentless retrieval. From 3/5 down, he unleashed four straight points, including a down-the-line backhand that kissed the line, clinching the set with a roar that reverberated off the arena walls. Though his 21 winners came with 19 unforced errors, the aggression defined his approach, probing the Australian's backhand with crosscourt angles to disrupt his rhythm on the fast court.
De Minaur thrived on the surface's pace, his quick feet turning defense into counterpunches, but Alcaraz varied depths to keep points short and forceful. The tension peaked with every exchange, the crowd holding its breath during extended rallies that highlighted the Spaniard's improved footwork. This set's drama forged a bridge to dominance, transforming early vulnerability into unshakeable poise.
Powering toward group stage command
In the second set, Alcaraz dialed in his error count while maintaining bold patterns, surging to another lead that he converted into a 6-2 finish in 1 hour and 40 minutes. His deeper serves neutralized De Minaur's returns, allowing inside-in forehands to pin the Aussie back and extend their head-to-head to 5-0. The victory, worth 200 points in the round robin, edged him closer to overtaking Sinner, with the math now favoring focus over fatigue.
“It was a really difficult match,” Alcaraz reflected. “On this surface, Alex makes the most of the speed of the ball, he’s super fast and really difficult on return. I’m just really happy to get through this really difficult challenge, and happy with how I’m playing [going into] the next matches.” His satisfaction underscored the tactical tweaks that turned the indoor conditions to his advantage, blending firepower with patience.
Looking ahead to Tuesday's matchup in the Jimmy Connors Group against either Taylor Fritz or Lorenzo Musetti, Alcaraz carries this momentum into a stage where every hold could solidify his supremacy. The Turin lights will shine brighter on his adjustments, promising a run defined by calculated risks and crowd-fueled fire as he chases the week's ultimate prize.
