Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz will fight in the final round-robin duel at the ATP Finals in Turin. Both rivals are in contention for the semi-final, with the German standing in a better position after scoring two wins in the previous duels. Alcaraz and Zverev are meeting for the second year in a row in Turin, with the more experienced player prevailing a year ago.
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ATP Finals scenarios. Who will go through?
Carlos did not feel well in the opening match in Turin against Casper Ruud, falling in straight sets and finding himself in a tough position. He defeated Andrey Rublev in straight sets in the second match and welcomed Zverev's victories over the other two rivals to keep his chances alive.
The two-time champion defeated Rublev and Ruud in straight sets. He needs one set against Alcaraz to secure the semi-final spot, although he should be safe even if he loses 2-0. Alexander claimed the Paris Masters title and should be the favorite against Carlos despite losing the previous two encounters this year.
Zverev faces Alcaraz for the second straight year in Turin
These twoare building a nice ATP Finals rivalry, facing each other at the beginning of last year's event. Alexander overcame a set deficit and a fall,scoringa 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory in two hours and 31 minutes. The German competed in Turin for the first time in two years, missing the 2022 edition due to a nasty ankle injury at Roland Garros.
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Alcaraz also skipped the event a year ago due to an injury, debuting at the premium ATP gathering and suffering a loss. Zverev claimed 11 points more than his opponent, defending five of six break points and delivering five breaks from eight opportunities. They hit almost 80 service winners on the super-fast surface.
Alexander tamed his strokes superbly, landing 33 winners and 21 unforced errors. Carlos finished the duel on a 29-28 ratio, doing everything to prevail but falling in the decider. The German had the upper hand from the baseline and at the net, overcoming an injury scare and emerging at the top.
Carlos prevails in the opener after 64 minutes
The first set went down to the wire, with the Spaniard overcoming an early setback and prevailing in the tie break. Zverev secured the second game with a backhand down the line winner and made a push on the return in the next one. Carlos played a loose drop shot and got broken after a wayward forehand.
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Alexander cemented the break with a fine hold before facing issues at 3-2. The Spaniard caused the rival's mistake for three break chances and pulled the break back after a wild forehand from the two-time champion. Zverev made another push on the return in the seventh game, cracking a forehand winner for three break points.
The young gun denied them and defended the fourth with a forced error before holding for a 4-3 advantage. Carlos closed the ninth game after deuces, opening a 5-4 gap and keeping the pressure on the other side. Alexander served to stay in the set at 5-6 and faced the ultimate challenge, playing against three set points.
The more experienced player denied them and held with a powerful serve, introducing a tie break and gathering a boost. However, Alcaraz earned a mini-break in the sixth point and landed a winner at the net at 5-3 for three set points. The 20-year-old seized the first after the rival's volley error for 7-6 after 64 minutes.
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Alexander launches his comeback in the second set
The German denied a break point in the first game of the second set after the Spaniard's loose backhand. Alcaraz played another loose backhand in the second game, losing serve and falling 2-0 behind. Zverev closed the third game with a powerful serve, building a healthy advantage.
The two-time winner closed the fifth game with a backhand winner, moving 4-1 up and controlling the scoreboard. Alexander brought the seventh game home at love with a powerful serve and kept the pressure on the other side. Carlos landed a forehand winner in the eighth game to extend the set.
Zverev served for the set at 5-3 and fired bullets from his initial shot for three set points. He landed an ace on the first, wrapping up the set in style and forcing a decider after an hour and 43 minutes.
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Zverev falls in the decider but brings the victory home
Alcaraz netted a backhand in the third game of the final set, facing a break point. He denied it with a fine attack and a volley winner at the net, holding with a service winner and moving 2-1 in front. However, Alexander closed the fourth game at love and made a push on the return in the next one.
The German grabbed a break after a return winner, with the Spaniard letting the ball pass him ina costly error. Zverev cemented the lead with a service winner in game six despite a nasty fall, opening a 4-2 gap and moving closer to the finish line. Alcaraz reached a deuce on the return in game eight from 0-40 before his rival terminated it with an ace.
Carlos served to stay in the match at 3-5 and landed a powerful serve for a hold at love, reducing the deficit and extending the battle. Alexander served for the win at 5-4 and missed a forehand, offering his opponent the final break chance.
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The German denied it with a booming initial shot and landed another for a match point. Alexander fired another strong serve down the T line, sealing the deal and making a winning start. Both players finished the round-robin stage with two wins. However, Alcaraz reached the semi-final while Zverev failed to follow him.
