Turin, Italy: World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz showcased his fighting spirit to edge past American Taylor Fritz in a thrilling 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-3 victory during the ATP Finals round-robin stage on Tuesday. The win keeps the Spanish sensation undefeated in the Jimmy Connors Group and on course for both a semi-final berth and the year-end No. 1 ranking.
In what was arguably the most gripping contest of the tournament so far, last year’s finalist Fritz came out firing, taking the opening set in a tense tiebreak. Alcaraz, however, weathered the storm and clawed back with his trademark resilience, breaking late in the second set to level the match.
The decisive third set saw the 21-year-old Spaniard dominate proceedings as Fritz began to fade. Alcaraz broke for a 4-2 lead and confidently served out the match to love, sealing victory in two hours and 48 minutes.
“It was pretty tight — I was struggling more than him in the first set,” Alcaraz admitted afterward. “I wasn’t serving well, and he was playing very comfortably from the baseline. I’m really happy I found a way to fight back.”
Battle of the Titans
The match opened with Fritz holding serve after a grueling nine-minute game, firing three aces while fending off two break points. Both players exchanged breaks early, with the American showcasing explosive power to take the first set tiebreak 7-2.
At 2-2 in the second set, Alcaraz looked rattled as his trademark drop shots began misfiring, but the top seed refused to crumble. After saving multiple break points, he stayed composed and eventually broke Fritz in the final game of the set — with a net-cord winner — to force a decider.
Fritz, visibly fatigued, could not match Alcaraz’s intensity in the final set. The Spaniard’s movement and consistency overwhelmed the American, who succumbed to Alcaraz’s relentless pressure.
“I was really relieved after the win because of everything I went through during the match,” Alcaraz said. “I wasn’t feeling the ball as well as I was in my first match, but I’m proud I found a way.”
Alcaraz will secure a semi-final spot if Alex de Minaur defeats Lorenzo Musetti later in the evening. The Spaniard is also just one win away from clinching the year-end World No. 1 title — and will face Musetti on Thursday in what promises to be another blockbuster showdown.
“Obviously it’s going to be a really big match for me,” said Alcaraz. “I’ll try to control my emotions and stay focused.”
