Match Report
\n Alcaraz outlasts Fritz in three-set thriller at Nitto ATP Finals<\/p>\n
Top seed is 2-0 in Jimmy Connors Group, can qualify for SFs if De Minaur beats Musetti<\/p>\n
November 11, 2025<\/p>\n
Corinne Dubreuil\/ATP Tour<\/p>\n
Carlos Alcaraz is chasing his first Nitto ATP Finals crown.
\n By Jerome Coombe<\/p>\n
Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> stayed firmly on course for his maiden Nitto ATP Finals<\/a> crown on Tuesday, when he rallied past Taylor Fritz<\/a> in a pulsating two-hour, 48-minute clash.<\/p>\n In front of a packed crowd inside Inalpi Arena, the top-seeded Spaniard produced a stirring comeback to prevail 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-3 and remain unbeaten at 2-0 in the Jimmy Connors<\/a> Group. Last year\u2019s runner-up Fritz looked poised to claim his second indoor win over Alcaraz in 2025, but the 22-year-old turned the tide with a blend of resilience and shotmaking brilliance \u2014 highlighted by a marathon 14-minute service hold in the second set.<\/p>\n Carlitos Comes Through! \ud83d\udcaa@carlosalcaraz<\/a> | #NittoATPFinals<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/8t2Rm3317B<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Tour (@atptour) November 11, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cIt was pretty tight, I was struggling more than him in the first set,\u201d said Alcaraz, who let slip a break lead in the opener. \u201cI wasn\u2019t serving well, and I think he was pretty comfortable from the baseline, from everywhere\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI was really relieved after the win because of everything I went through during the match. I wasn\u2019t feeling the ball as well as I was in the first round, but I\u2019m really happy that I found a way to come back and find weakness from him.\u201d<\/p>\n Alcaraz can now qualify for the semi-finals if Alex de Minaur<\/a> defeats debutant Lorenzo Musetti<\/a> later on Tuesday. He has also moved to within 50 points of securing ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours over rival Jannik Sinner<\/a>. He will finish his round-robin campaign against Musetti on Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cI will try not to think about it,\u201d Alcaraz said with a smile when he told he needs one more win in Turin to secure Year-End No. 1. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a really big match for me. I will try not to let the nerves play a bad time in the match. I will think about my goals, about feeling much better than today.\u201d<\/p>\n The highlight of the match came early in the second set, when Alcaraz \u2014 facing break point at 2-2 \u2014 conjured a bit of magic to escape a losing rally before charging the net for a crisp volley winner. That effort was one of many in a marathon 14-minute service hold and proved to spark a momentum shift.<\/p>\n Having saved both break points he faced in the second set, according to Infosys ATP Stats, Alcaraz then benefitted from a slice of luck in the decisive 12th game. A shovelled backhand return at 0\/15 clipped the net cord, wrong-footing Fritz and opening the door for Alcaraz, who converted his second set point before taking firm control of the decider en route to improving to 5-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n