Granollers and Zeballos seize Turin opener from champions
In the Pala Alpitour's tense glare, the season's leading pair converted a grueling rivalry into a group-stage edge, blending resilience with sharp returns to outlast the defending titleholders.
Under the steady hum of Turin's Pala Alpitour, Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos arrived with the weight of an unbeaten streak against Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz, ready to ignite the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals. The Spaniard and Argentine, pursuing a sixth title in a campaign defined by dominance, navigated the indoor hard courts' brisk pace to claim a 6-4, 4-6, 10-6 victory on Sunday. This result, their second over the Germans this year, bolstered a flawless 4-0 head-to-head record and planted an early flag in the Peter Fleming Group.
Absorbing pressure in tight sets
The opening exchanges tested both pairs' resolve, with Krawietz and Puetz pressing from the net while Granollers and Zeballos countered using crosscourt slices that hugged the lines, forcing awkward stretches. Each team saved eight of nine break points, a testament to the surface's unforgiving speed where low-bouncing underspin disrupted volleys and inside-out forehands opened angles. As the first set tipped their way, the duo's one–two returns began to erode the champions' rhythm, turning defensive stands into probing attacks that echoed through the arena's rising murmurs.
Yet the second set exposed vulnerabilities, with unforced errors creeping in after prolonged rallies that favored the Germans' flat drives down the line. Granollers later emphasized the stakes in this round-robin format.
“It’s super important to start the tournament well,” said Granollers. “At the end, every match counts, every set counts. So for us, starting with a victory was very important.”
Start as you mean to go on @M_Granollers and @HoracioZeballos are off to a winning start in the Peter Fleming Group.#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/5dk6glQiD3
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 9, 2025
Seizing control in the tiebreak
Trailing after the second set, Zeballos and his partner regrouped with focused exchanges at the changeover, channeling the crowd's energy into a surge that built an 8-3 lead in the Match Tie-break. Their aggressive returns neutralized second serves, while precise inside-in passes clipped the corners, leaving the Germans scrambling on the fast indoor hard. This mental reset, honed over six consecutive Nitto ATP Finals appearances and an 8-11 overall mark including a 2023 runner-up finish, transformed potential doubt into decisive momentum.
Zeballos highlighted the psychological lift that proved crucial against such formidable opponents.
“It was a really tough match, as we knew,” said Zeballos. “Every match here is [like] a final, especially when you play against this team. They are a really strong team. I think one of the keys was to be really positive at the beginning of the [Match] Tie-break. After losing the second set, it was really tough.”
Positioning for group dominance
With this win tucked away, @M_Granollers and @HoracioZeballos now eye the Peter Fleming Group's remaining fixtures, where their net poise and return depth could solidify year-end No. 1 aspirations. The Germans, resilient despite the loss, face an uphill climb in a format that amplifies every point's value toward semifinals qualification. In Turin's charged atmosphere, this opener signals the duo's intent to extend their season's arc, blending tactical acuity with the quiet confidence of seasoned contenders ready for deeper runs.
