Alcaraz savors second year-end No. 1 in Turin
Carlos Alcaraz grips the ATP Year-End No. 1 trophy amid the Nitto ATP Finals' electric hum, his second such honor a testament to resilience forged through a season's trials and triumphs.
In the resonant confines of Turin's Pala Alpitour, Carlos Alcaraz hoisted the ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF trophy on Friday afternoon, the crystal catching the arena lights as a symbol of reclaimed supremacy at the Nitto ATP Finals. The 22-year-old Spaniard had secured this distinction the evening prior, dismantling Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets to finish round-robin play at a perfect 3-0. This marked his second year-end No. 1 finish, following the breakthrough of 2022, but arrived after a campaign laced with physical setbacks and mental recalibrations that sharpened his edge on every surface.
Team unity powers the ascent
Alcaraz's path to this pinnacle demanded more than individual flair; it relied on the unyielding support of his core team, intact since his first No. 1 achievement in 2022. They navigated the season's turbulence together, dissecting rally patterns and adapting to indoor hard courts' swift pace, where one–two combinations—wide serves followed by inside-out forehands—disrupted opponents' setups. New team members brought fresh tactical layers, like employing underspin approaches to vary tempo against baseline defenders, turning potential vulnerabilities into strengths that propelled him through the rankings grind.
During the ceremony, ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi and Head of Corporate Brand and Strategic Advisory at PIF Mohamed Alsayyad presented the trophy, a ritual that underscored the collective journey behind Alcaraz's dominance. He spoke of the pride in this enduring partnership, which buffered the isolation of global travel from January 1 to late November.
“It is a pleasure for me [being] the No. 1,” Alcaraz said. “Being the No. 1 of the world is something that I’m working really hard for with my team every day. It is a goal. But I think it is a journey that you’re not going through alone. It’s with your whole team, with your family, with your close people behind you always supporting you in the tough and good moments, which I’m really, really proud about: having such a great team.”
This continuity fostered resilience, evident in his round-robin mastery, where crosscourt returns neutralized Musetti's defensive slices and preserved energy for deeper runs.
Global cheers fuel the drive
Beyond the court, Alcaraz drew vitality from fans worldwide, their energy a constant amid shifting venues and relentless schedules. From clay's red grit to hard courts' unforgiving speed, crowd roars ignited third-set surges, flipping momentum with down-the-line backhands or net-rushing volleys that turned deficits into triumphs. This universal support transformed exhaustion into exhilaration, making comebacks possible in matches where solitude might have prevailed.
He extended gratitude during the presentation, highlighting how this affection permeated every tournament atmosphere, from packed stadiums to intimate arenas.
“I’m still really proud about the team I have right now,” Alcaraz said. “Some new members in the team that I’m really happy and proud to share this moment with them as well. For me it’s a great achievement. It means the world to me and I’m just really proud and happy.”
“I want to continue because the support that I’m receiving everywhere that I’m going, I can’t thank enough the people,” he added. “We’re traveling since the 1st of January until the end of November — new places, new countries, new stages and the people are always the same. The great energy, the great atmosphere, I feel the love everywhere that I’m going. In some tournaments, in some matches without the support of the people it wouldn’t be possible to come back, to win, to lift trophies. So I really want to say thank you for all the people who are coming to every tournament, to every match, that are supporting tennis, supporting myself. I’m really grateful for everyone for the energy and the love that I am receiving. This trophy is obviously for them.”
These words captured the emotional undercurrent of his season, where fan devotion mirrored the tactical precision that kept him atop the leaderboard.
Semi-final tests await in Turin
With the year-end honor in hand, Alcaraz turned his focus to the Nitto ATP Finals semi-final on Saturday, facing either two-time champion Alexander Zverev or Felix Auger-Aliassime in pursuit of his first title at the event. Against Zverev's thunderous serves, he anticipates deep returns to jam the German's flat groundstrokes, setting up inside-in forehands for winners. If Auger-Aliassime awaits, the plan shifts to countering kick serves with low slices, opening angles for crosscourt exchanges that exploit the Canadian's retrieval on indoor hard.
This matchup promises to probe the maturity gleaned from 2025's pressures, where adaptations like varying serve placements preserved his lead through autumn's crunch. The Spaniard's blend of psychological fortitude and strategic depth positions him not just to defend No. 1, but to etch a new milestone in Turin's storied finale, carrying the season's lessons into every point.
