Alcaraz Kicks Off Turin With Commanding Win Over De Minaur
9 November 2025
Match, Stakes and the No. 1 Quest
Following his best season to date, Carlos Alcaraz opened the 2025 ATP Finals in Turin with a standout performance, delivering the long-awaited opening victory.
Top seed Alcaraz edged past Australian Alex de Minaur in a tense duel, winning 7-6, 6-2 to spark his bid for a first end-of-year title. He had previously lost his opening two Turin matches to Alexander Zverev in 2023 and Casper Ruud in 2024, and he looked determined to rewrite that script, even if it meant enduring a nerve-jangling first set.
Alcaraz afterward told the ATP Tour site that the event is among the very best on tour, stressing the level of competition and how proud he is to pursue this opportunity as he works to finish the year at the peak of the standings.
First set details
In the opener, Alcaraz showed early sharpness, grabbing leads at 4-1 and 40-0, only for De Minaur to mount a comeback and force a tight decider. The Spaniard steadied himself and produced the necessary runs to take the set in a tiebreak.
Second set and the ranking chase
The second set saw Alcaraz remain aggressive, cut his unforced errors, and close out 6-2, strengthening his head-to-head with De Minaur to 5-0. The hour-and-a-half contest reinforced his bid to finish the year as world No. 1, with 250 points still needed after a 200-point reward for every group win.
He now eyes another win on Tuesday as he faces Taylor Fritz or Lorenzo Musetti in the group stage; Alcaraz owns the most wins on tour this year and has claimed eight titles in 2025.
Djokovic absent
The Serbian star Novak Djokovic announced his withdrawal from the event due to a persistent injury, posting the news on social media after the Athens final. He still claimed his 101st career title in Athens, a triumph that pushed his all-time tally higher even as he sat out Turin this year. Djokovic remains a major factor in the race for records, despite his absence here.
Djokovic withdrew; and the narrative in Turin shifts a bit as the field pursues the coveted No. 1 spot, with Alcaraz stepping into a spotlight that already carries the weight of a season’s worth of expectations.
In the meantime, Alcaraz’s momentum presses on, even as rivals reshape the late-season drama. The Spaniard’s blend of power and precision keeps the conversation lively and, truth be told, a touch suspenseful for the rest of the event.
Closing notes and a touch of humor
Final thought: if this pace keeps up, the only thing that will be chasing Alcaraz is a calendar full of trophies. And if you squint, the linesman might just start charging admission for the speed show on every forehand.”
Punchline 1: If tennis were a comedy club, Alcaraz would be headlining every week—serves so sharp they cut the punchlines in half. Punchline 2: In Turin, even the ball seems to be on vacation from doubt, and the crowd doesn’t mind one bit.
