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Carlos Alcaraz began his bid for a first ATP Finals trophy with a 7-6 (5), 6-2 win over Australian Alex de Minaur<\/a> in their round-robin clash in Turin on Sunday.<\/p>\n Alcaraz won his opening ATP Finals<\/a> match for the first time despite De Minaur\u2019s battling display, where the Australian recovered from 4-1 down to force a tiebreak in the opening set before the Spaniard came out on top.<\/p>\n The pair traded breaks of serve at the start of the second set, but Alcaraz broke twice more to again lead 4-1 and this time there was no comeback despite De Minaur\u2019s valiant effort in the opening match of the Jimmy Connors Group.<\/p>\n Alcaraz is on course to end the year as world number one, and in Turin he must either reach the final or sweep his round-robin matches to guarantee himself the year-end top spot for the second time. Reuters<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n That, then, is us, but fear not: we\u2019ve plenty else for you, starting immediately. <\/p>\n Otherwise, though, thanks for your company; join me again tomorrow evening for Jannik Sinner v Felix Auger-Aliassime. Until then, though, enjoy the rest of the weekend and peace out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz says it was a really difficult match \u2013 De Minaur is good on this surface and made the most of the speed of ball and court. He always takes the ball in front of him, and sends it back faster than it arrived.<\/p>\n For his part, Alcaraz says this is one of the best tournaments on the circuit and the last few years he\u2019s been struggling to get to it with energy and motivation. But this year is different, he\u2019s really proud of the condition he\u2019s in, and he hopes to win it for the first time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s just completely unacceptable how good Alcaraz is \u2013 and he\u2019s still improving. I fear even Sinner may have trouble with him \u2013 see the US Open final \u2013 and if so, you can only feel for the rest of the lads.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n That was a really enjoyable match, De Minaur doing all he could, which was simultaneously plenty yet nowhere near enough. He just doesn\u2019t have a big enough game to beat the big dogs on the big occasions, and it\u2019s hard to see what he can do about that.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Carlos Alcaraz beats Alex de Minaur 7-6(5) 6-2<\/p>\n *Alcaraz 7-6(5) 5-2 De Minaur De Minaur gets into position early and deflects a big forehand back for 0-15, but he can\u2019t cope with the pair directed at him next rally; 15-all. A double follows \u2026 redeemed by a service-winner, then another, ripped into the body, raises match point \u2026 saved by a backhand wafted long. No matter: Alcaraz reverses momentum in the next exchange with a backhand lasered down the line, backed up with a forehand and Demon nets, them a backhand winner swishes cross-court, finishes the match. Well though his opponent played, even when a mini-break down at 3-5 in the first-set breaker, it didn\u2019t really seem possible he could lose and he didn\u2019t, because it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning his match against Australia’s Alex De Minaur. Photograph: Marco Bertorello\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.14 EST<\/p>\n Alcaraz 7-6(5) 5-2 De Minaur* If De Minaur maintains the level he\u2019s produced today, he can qualify from this group; Musetti and Fritz are both eminently beatable. In the meantime, though, he holds easily, forcing Alcaraz to serve for the match.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz 7-6(5) 5-1 De Minaur De Minaur can produce the tennis of his life and still lose handily: I\u2019m afraid that\u2019s the size of things. And, though he\u2019s good enough to compete for a while, over the course of a match, even a best-of-three, sustaining it is almost impossible. He does, though, make 15-30 and then, at 30-all, wondrous gets from both, perhaps the best movers in the men\u2019s game \u2013 though Felix Auger-Aliassime has a claim too \u2013 allows him to pat away a volley at the end of a brilliant rally. However break point is quickly confiscated via service winner and though De Minaur does amazingly to stay in the next point, eventually the weight of genius is too much and, after some rat-a-tat-tat at the net, a backhand raises advantage and a further service-winner seals another hold. At 1-5, De Minaur must hold to stay in the match.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.48 EST<\/p>\n Alcaraz 7-6(5) 4-1 De Minaur* Alcaraz makes 0-15 and you fear for the Demon, but a wondrous forehand, unleashed cross while doing the splits restores parity. Ach, but a backhand annihilated flat down the line makes 15-30 \u2026 then an even better one, on the slide and from outside the tramlines, earns two points for a double break. This is getting silly now, and there\u2019s something cartoonish about the forehand down the line that secures the game to love \u2013 it felt like cheating, as though he\u2019s engaged a setting that enables him to hit the ball as hard as any ball has ever been hit, while keeping it in court. That was some of the best shot-making you\u2019ll ever see, just absolutely revolting in its sweetness.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz 7-6(5) 3-1 De Minaur I\u2019m expecting a seriously dialled-in Alcaraz as he once again attempts to consolidate, and he does so in seconds, to love. The ability to up a level, if an opponent demands it of you, is in the gift of only the very best, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re seeing now; it\u2019s a compliment to the way De Minaur is playing, but he\u2019s very clearly sick of losing these matches and I doubt it\u2019s any consolation.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz 7-6(5) 2-1 De Minaur* De Minaur is a tournament-organiser\u2019s nightmare, able to bin good players in the rounds but likely to meet another in the final and lose 3 and 4. He finds himself serving at 30-all \u2026 and goodness me, Alcaraz dematerialises a forehand winner down the line, flat and screeching \u2026 then does the same on backhand! I\u2019m afraid that\u2019s the difference: the ability to do amazingness to which no riposte exists, and that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019ve just seen. Alcaraz leads again by a set and a break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz 7-6(5) 1-1 De Minaur Or is it?! De Minaur makes 0-40, then marches into net to punch a forehand into the corner \u2026 only to net the second volley. If he can\u2019t secure the break-back from here, he might be done for, but Alcaraz goes wide, and that is fantastic behaviour from the Aussie, back level in the set. This might be the best I\u2019ve seen him play against this level of opponent.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz 7-6(5) 1-0 De Minaur* I\u2019d not be surprised to see Alcaraz break immediately \u2013 Demon\u2019s deflation won\u2019t be easy to manage \u2013 and sure enough a monstrous leaping forehand makes 0-3o, then a loopy forehand on to the line is sent back into the net. Oh and have a look! A backhand winner scorched down the line seal the break to love, and this match is going only one way.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.25 EST<\/p>\n Carlos Alcaraz wins the first srt against Alex de Minaur 7-6(5)<\/p>\n Alcaraz 7-6(5) De Minaur De Minaur will feel very, very poorly: he did brilliantly well to fight his way back into the set, only to give it away when he didn\u2019t have to. The final point is emphatic, Alcaraz\u2019s forehand murderous, and it\u2019s a long way back from here.<\/p>\n Carlos Alcaraz returns. Photograph: Daniel Kopatsch\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.59 EST<\/p>\n Alcaraz 6-6 De Minaur (6-5) Now then! Alcaraz overhits a backhand and at 3-5, Demon is two points away from the set; a service-winner reduces the arrears, but the Aussie has been the better player the last few games; can he get over the line? Er, no or not yet: Alcaraz plays a fine rally and, though De Minaur does really to hang in it, eventually an overhead restores parity at 5-5, and seconds later a double donates set point.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz 6-6 De Minaur (3-3) Three holds to start, De Minaur more than holding his own \u2026 and securing the mini-break when, following an exchange of slices, Alcaraz nets to trail 1-3. There\u2019s a lot of frustration in the overhead putaway that closes the gap \u2026 and a delicious drop, caresses down the line, means that at chance of ends, we\u2019re level.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz 6-6 De Minaur* It wouldn\u2019t be surprising to see Alcaraz up it here, but an ace makes 15-0, an overhit inside-out forehand 30-0. The Spaniard didn\u2019t like that last shot, and a return swatted long raises three game points; De Minaur is playing well enough to incite him to go for more than is on. And seconds later, the game and breaker are secure; here we go\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz 6-5 De Minaur A double hands over 15-all, a deft volley then restoring Alcaraz\u2019s advantage. His ability to compete like a vicious lunatic while having as much fun as possible is unprecedented in the 40-odd years I\u2019ve been watching this thing of ours, and he secures his hold with minimum fuss, forcing De Minaur to serve for a tiebreak. At 1-4 0-40, he\u2019d\u2019ve took it, as Ryan Giggs would say.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz 5-5 De Minaur* A first ace of the match gives De Minaur 30-15, and an overhit forehand \u2013 responding to an admittedly decent corner-to-corner effort from Alcaraz \u2013 takes us to 30-all. From there, though, De Minaur sees out the game; he\u2019s serving much better now than earlier in the set, and he\u2019s comfortable in the match.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz 5-4 De Minaur Trouble for Alcaraz at 30-30, but a delivery out wide is backed up with a deft volley, and a net cord that kills the ball dead secures the hold. De Minaur will now serve to stay in the set.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.59 EST<\/p>\n Alcaraz 4-4 De Minaur* De Minaur reaches 40-15 and though a net cord keeps him from a love hold, after mashing a forehand winner, Alcaraz overhits and we\u2019re back level. That did not look likely at 4-1 0-40, but here we are, the set now right back in the balance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.00 EST<\/p>\n *Alcaraz 4-3 De Minaur It\u2019s an absolute outrage for Alcaraz to be this good, to dominate opponents this good, at his age. At 22, he\u2019s already won six majors, enshrined as an all-time great, and who knows where it\u2019ll end? He does, though, find himself serving at 30-all, controlling the next rally. But somehow, De Minaur stops in it, skidding from side to side before blocking back an overhead and inciting the error! A point for the break back \u2026 and again, behind in the rally, he hoists a decent lob \u2026 splattered back art him for a winner. The Demon, though, is playing his best tennis of the set in this game, creating an opportunity to hare in and dispatch a forehand winner down the line for advantage; can get after a second serve? Er, not in the way that he\u2019d like, but Alcaraz nets a forehand and, out of nowhere, the Aussie breaks back!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz 4-2 De Minaur* Oh dear. Alcaraz quickly makes 0-30 then, assaulted from the back, he wafts a backhand wide, the 21st shot of a fantastic rally, and there just isn\u2019t much he can do about this: his best isn\u2019t good enough to even get close with the blond bombshell in this kind of form. But he sure knows how to compete, saving three break points before rushing through advantage to secure an improbable hold.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz 4-1 De Minaur There just isn\u2019t much anyone can do when Alcaraz hits like that, but chasing a T-serve, De Minaur flaps a desperate return inside-out \u2026 and into the corner. What a strike that is, even if winning points like that is unsustainable, and a flat forehand, belted cross, restores parity at 15-all. And though, at 40-15, Alcaraz nets a forehand of his own, Demon then goes long, and that\u2019s the break endorsed. This match is proceeding exactly as we thought it would.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz 3-1 De Minaur* Alcaraz makes 0-15, a backhand down the line is good enough to go unreturned, then a gorgeously disguised drop raises three break points. So De Minaur looks to attack the backhand \u2026 and another belter, this time a clean winner, securers the advantage and concludes a near-perfect game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz 2-1 De Minaur The balls aren\u2019t bouncing all that high, which is good for De Minaur; it limits Alcaraz\u2019s power advantage and stops him hitting down on the ball. He makes 30-15 with the aid of an ace, but on game point, is cramped by a return on to the baseline and can\u2019t respond. Oh, and have a look: De Minaur attacks a second serve, as he must, then seizes control of the rally with a big forehand down the line, cleaning up thereafter to make deuce. Alcaraz, though, can\u2019t convert advantage, seeing his first drop of the match run down, but he does enough with his second; De Minaur will be naused he couldn\u2019t make more of another second delivery.<\/p>\n Alex de Minaur is playing at his second ATP Finals after also qualifying last year. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.40 EST<\/p>\n Alcaraz 1-1 De Minaur* De Minaur played positively in the first game and he presses the action here, outlasting Alcaraz in an 18-stroke rally; well, sort of. He dominates the exchange, but one poor shot almost costs him; the Spaniard, though, nets a forehand. An ace follows, the next serve goes unreturned, and that\u2019s a confident hold from D-Min.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz 1-0 De Minaur (*denotes server) Alcaraz, dressed in Aussie colours, makes 15-0 then swipes a backhand into the top of the net. Then, at 30-15, a fine backhand cross from the Demon sets up a forehand table-tennis winner, spun cross-court with maximum prejudice. Naturally, an ace follows \u2026 then another. You\u2019ve got to laugh.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n De Minaur won the toss and opted to receive; ready \u2026 play.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Sinner and Alcaraz are, by the way, fighting to finish the year as world no 1. Alcaraz needs 450 points to guarantee that honour; he can achieve that by winning his three round-robin matches, or by reaching the final.<\/p>\n If he loses all three matches, Sinner must win two and win the title; if he wins one and loses two, Sinner must win two and win the title; and if he wins two and does not reach the final, Sinner must win every match en route to the title.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So what can De Minaur do to win? Er, not that much, but he might want to prolong the rallies, denying Alcaraz angle by hitting down the middle and hoping to frustrate him into going for too many improbable winners. Or he might unload on as many shots as possible, Wawrinka-style, looking for winners and hoping to hit a seam. Unlike the Stanimal, though, he doesn\u2019t really have the game for the latter, which leaves him with the former.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026and here comes the genius. <\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here comes the Demon\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Our players are ready to come on to court; \u201cevery single phone is out,\u201d says our host, people preserving a moment they didn\u2019t live. I wonder if even one of them will ever watch their video again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Also going on: <\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Some pre-match reading;<\/p>\n I\u2019d like to think Fritz has the power to beat the big two on a good day, but I\u2019m afraid I can\u2019t persuade myself. Every tournament both of them have entered this year, one of them has won.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Word to the wise: nothing whatsoever to do with tennis, but Wu Yize leads John Higgins 8-4 in the final of snooker\u2019s International Championship. He\u2019s yet to win a ranking title but looks almost certain to take this one and at just 22, is an imminent superstar.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Completing the field, in the Bj\u00f6rn Borg Group are Alexander Zverev<\/a> and Ben Shelton, who meet this evening, along with Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime, whose contest we\u2019ll be covering tomorrow night.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Also in Group Jimmy Connors: Lorenzo Musetti and Taylor Fritz, who meet tomorrow afternoon. The former is in as an alternate, involved only because Novak Djokovic beat him last evening in a marathon Hellenic Championship final, then withdrew from this week\u2019s caper, injured.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Men\u2019s tennis is in an interesting spot, isn\u2019t it? Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have alternated majors this year and are, unarguably, moving away from the chasing pack. That\u2019s good in a way \u2013 rivalries are crucial in individual sports, where most aren\u2019t fanatically attached to any one player \u2013 but, at the same time, though the slams remains fantastic because they\u2019re about so much more than the top two, they also feel predictable in that we know, almost for certain, which players will contest the final. The hope is that, in the next year or two, Jack Draper, Jo\u00e3o Fonseca, and perhaps Jakub Mensik and Jiri Lehecka improve enough to challenge but, in the meantime, we can expect more of the same.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n Hello there and welcome to the ATP Finals<\/a> 2025 \u2013 day one!<\/p>\n Our week of fun begins with perhaps the funnest. Very few enjoy the stress of competition as much as Carlos Alcaraz<\/a>, his unique brand of power and creativity unlike anything we\u2019ve seen before, the pleasure he takes in his virtuosity as affirming as the virtuosity itself.<\/p>\n