Carlos Alcaraz began his ATP Finals campaign with a victory Sunday, putting him in a strong position to finish the year as the world’s top-ranked male tennis player.
The Spanish player defeated Australian Alex De Minaur in two sets, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, in their opening match at the tournament in Turin, Italy. The contest lasted one hour and 40 minutes.
This win ensures Alcaraz will reclaim the world No. 1 ranking on Monday.
The 23-year-old can solidify his year-end top spot by winning his two remaining group stage matches. His next opponents in the Jimmy Connors Group are American Taylor Fritz and Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.
Should he fail to win both matches, Alcaraz would need to reach the final of the ATP Finals for the first time in his career. He reached the semifinals in his debut appearance in 2023.
In another opening match, Germany’s Alexander Zverev, ranked world No. 3, defeated American Ben Shelton, ranked world No. 5. Zverev, a two-time champion of the event, won 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).
The match, which lasted one hour and 34 minutes, saw Shelton, who was making his tournament debut, hold three set points in the second set tie-break before Zverev rallied for the victory.
Zverev and Shelton are competing in the Björn Borg Group, which also includes Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime.