Alcaraz digs deep for first Turin turnaround
In the sweltering indoor arena of the Nitto ATP Finals, Carlos Alcaraz clawed back from a set down against Taylor Fritz, blending tactical tweaks with unyielding mindset to edge closer to year-end glory.
In the humid haze of Turin's Pala Alpitour, Carlos Alcaraz carved out his first comeback victory from a set deficit at the Nitto ATP Finals. The 22-year-old Spaniard outlasted Taylor Fritz in a grueling near three-hour battle that pushed his physical limits and mental resolve to the edge. This hard-fought win propels him toward the semifinals and leaves him one match away from securing the PIF ATP year-end No. 1 ranking for the second time.
“A tennis match can change at any moment,” explained the 22-year-old. “When we’re on court, we don’t know what’s going to happen; we’re stuck in the present. If you’re not feeling good, you tend to think it’ll stay that way. From the outside, everything looks easier but ultimately, if you stick with it and keep doing the right things, it always improves. Today I ended up playing much better.”
Backhand angles crack Fritz's defense
Early exchanges saw Fritz dictate from the baseline with flat, penetrating groundstrokes that pinned Alcaraz deep, forcing defensive crosscourts under the arena's artificial lights. The Spaniard absorbed the pressure in the opening set, his own returns skimming the lines but lacking penetration against the American's solid positioning. As rallies stretched, Alcaraz began varying depths, incorporating underspin to disrupt Fritz's rhythm on the quicker indoor surface.
The pivot arrived in the second set at 2-3, during a 14-minute hold that drained both players but steadied Alcaraz's footing. He followed by breaking Fritz's serve, threading backhand down-the-line winners that caught the American leaning crosscourt. This shot, honed in practice sessions, opened the court for inside-in forehands, creating one–two combinations that exploited gaps in Fritz's coverage.
Alcaraz later highlighted how his team targeted this backhand variation to avoid predictability, especially indoors where balls skid faster. By surprising Fritz with inside-out strikes, he drew errors from the baseline and invited his preferred forehand into high-percentage positions. The crowd's murmurs built with each such winner, the Pala Alpitour's echoes amplifying the shift from stalemate to supremacy.
Serve tweaks weather return pressure
Unlike his opener against Alex de Minaur, Alcaraz's serve lacked its usual bite, landing with lower percentages that invited Fritz's deep, angled returns. The American pounced early, breaking to claim the first set as the Spaniard scrambled to find first-strike points on a surface that rewards precision over raw power. Humidity thickened the air, turning every missed placement into extended rallies that tested endurance.
Mid-match adjustments helped: Alcaraz mixed slice second serves to the body with wider first deliveries, gradually climbing his completion rate to ease baseline pressure. Fritz's aggressive returns kept coming, but the Spaniard used them to set up passing shots, varying crosscourt loops with down-the-line replies. He acknowledged the serve's role in freeing his game, noting how discomfort forced a more grinding style against such a returner.
The physical toll mounted over three hours, with sweat-slicked grips and labored breaths underscoring the indoor conditions' subtle drag. Alcaraz confessed the mental strain of quelling doubts during lulls, yet his persistence in polishing placement turned vulnerability into controlled aggression. As the final set unfolded, steadier serving allowed bolder patterns, pulling Fritz into netless scrambles that favored the Spaniard's athleticism.
Rankings chase sharpens tournament focus
With two wins in the group, Alcaraz tops his section and eyes the year-end No. 1 spot, a goal he's chased since January amid Jannik Sinner's steady dominance. He views the ranking as a significant milestone but insists on channeling energy into the present, wary of how added stakes can tighten nerves at key moments. Indoor tennis remains a work in progress for him, its enclosed pace demanding quicker footwork and sharper angles than outdoor clay or grass.
Recovery now commands his team's attention, with a full day to fine-tune every detail before the group finale. The match's demands—sustained intensity under heat and humidity—highlighted the need for mental positivity to counter fatigue, a lesson from prior Turin outings. Fritz tested those boundaries relentlessly, his baseline consistency forcing Alcaraz to evolve on the fly.
Emerging with matured poise, the Spaniard carries confidence from this rally, proving he can thrive from slow starts in unfamiliar confines. The Pala Alpitour's energy surged with his fist pumps, mirroring an internal resolve that bends adversity toward opportunity. As semifinals loom, this grit positions him to not only advance but cap 2025 with the summit he craves, one adaptive point at a time.
