Carlos Alcaraz battled past Taylor Fritz in a tense three-set duel on Tuesday to move within one win of reclaiming the year-end world number one ranking at the ATP Finals in Turin.
The five-time Grand Slam champion fought back from a set down to defeat last year’s runner-up 6-7 (2-7), 7-5, 6-3, making it two wins from two in the Jimmy Connors Group.
Alcaraz will qualify for the semi-finals if Alex de Minaur defeats Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti later on Tuesday.
“I’m really happy I was able to come back and find my good tennis,” Alcaraz said after the match. “I just tried to make the most of the opportunities he gave me. I think we played great tennis, some great points.”
The Spaniard, who lost his No. 1 ranking to Jannik Sinner after the Paris Masters earlier this month, will finish 2025 as the top-ranked player if he beats Musetti on Thursday. Sinner, meanwhile, must defend his Finals title unbeaten to have any chance of retaining the year-end crown.
Alcaraz now leads their head-to-head 5–1, with Fritz’s only victory coming at the Laver Cup in September. The American will face De Minaur in his final group match.
The contest was gruelling from the start. Fritz edged the opening set in a tie-break after saving multiple break points, while Alcaraz saved two in a 21-minute marathon game in the second set before forcing a decider with a precise passing shot.
Momentum swung firmly his way in the third set, as Alcaraz broke in the sixth game and sealed the win on serve, clinching the victory when Fritz sent a backhand wide.
