Carlos Alcaraz got off to a strong start at the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals, defeating Alex De Minaur in his opening group-stage match. The Spanish star won in straight sets, showing mental toughness and technical precision, especially after a challenging first set. The win marks an important step in his quest to finish the season as World No.1.
A match that turned after early struggles
Alcaraz reflected on his performance, acknowledging the difficulties and how he managed to recover at key moments.
“I had the first set in hand, I was up 4-1 and 40-0, but couldn’t close it. From there, everything got harder until the tiebreak, where I was down 5-3. I tried not to lose focus, stayed concentrated on every point. Luckily, I managed to recover and in the second set I didn’t feel the same nerves. I’m really happy to have won in straight sets; the first match here is never easy. In fact, it’s the first time I’ve won my opening match in this tournament,” he said.
Clear goals in Turin
The Murcian reiterated his ambitions for the tournament, aiming not only for the title but also for the top spot in the rankings.
“As I’ve said several times in recent days, I’m not just here to win the trophy but also to fight for the No.1 ranking. I’m very pleased with my performance in this first group match. I stayed focused on my goals against a dangerous opponent like Alex; he’s always tough to face. I’m happy with this first win and excited for what’s next,”
he commented.Moving past the Paris setback
Alcaraz also addressed his recent disappointment in Paris, explaining how he worked to regain confidence.
“You always have to look for the positives; we talked about what happened in Paris, we analyzed it, but a bad match can happen. Of course, after a match like that, it’s normal to have doubts going into the next tournament, especially about how you’ll feel. But here I felt great on court. I know we’re the top eight in the world; here, you either play well or you get eaten, and that helps you stay focused on every shot and every moment. Mentally, I try to stick to the goals we’ve set; I think it was a very good first round,” Alcaraz said.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2025
At the moment ranked no.2, Carlos played his last match on the 9th of November when he defeated world no.7 Alex De Minaur 7-6(5) 6-2 in the round robin in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
Until now, during this year Alcaraz has managed to achieve an overall 68-8 record. The Spaniard conquered 8 titles in 2025 in Rotterdam, Monte-Carlo, Rome, French Open, London, Cincinnati, U.S. Open and Tokyo. Alcaraz was the finalist in Barcelona and Wimbledon.