World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will compete in the semi-final of the ATP Finals for the fourth time. The German passed the round-robin stage with a perfect 3-0 score, avoiding Jannik Sinner in the semi-final and arranging the clash against Taylor Fritz. In my opinion, Alexander will be the favorite in that match, hoping to reach another notable final.
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Zverev faced world no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz in the final round-robin match and earned a 7-6, 6-4 triumph, beating the Spaniard for the second straight year in Turin. It was their 11th duel, and the German ousted the young Spaniard for the sixth time, bouncing back after two consecutivelosses this year.
Crucial numbers in Zverev's victory
The German served at 79% and ruled his service games, defending both break points and mounting the pressure on the other side. The Spaniard denied seven of eight break points, fighting hard but ending on the losing side after getting broken once in the second set.
Zverev tamed his strokes nicely, landing 29 winners and 19 unforced errors. Alcaraz stayed on a 26-29 ratio, spraying too many errors and losing the edge from the baseline. Nothing separated them in the mid-range exchanges, with Alexander building the advantage in the shortest and most advanced exchanges.
Alexander closes the opening set after a drama
Like a year ago in Turin, they embraced a tie break in the opening set and battled for over an hour. The German provided six comfortable holds and missed his chances on the return, including a set point. Carlos was off to a slow start, facing two break points in the second game of the encounter and denying them to avoid an early setback.
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Zverev made another push on the return in the fourth game, creating four break chances and missing them, the last with a loose backhand. They served well in the upcoming games, with Alexander moving 6-5 in front with a service winner in game 11. Alexander landed a smash winner in the 12th game, earning a set point.
World no. 2 sprayed it with a forehand error, allowing world no. 3 to close the game and introduce a tie break. The German led 3-2 before they exchanged five mini-breaks, with the Spaniard falling 5-2 behind after a forehand error. He reduced the gap to 5-4 with two return points, extending his chances.
Alcaraz sprayed a backhand error in the tenth point, offering his opponent two set points. Zverev seized the second after a thrilling point, wrapping up the opener in 65 minutes and generating a boost.
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Zverev breaks in the second set and moves over the top
Carlos squandered a game point at the beginning of the second set and netted a slice to suffer a break and fall further behind. Alexander faced the only two break points in the sixth game. He denied the first with a service winner and welcomed the rival's mistake on the second before holding and opening a 4-2 gap.
The two-time champion painted an ace in the eighth game for a hold at love and served for the win at 5-4. Alcaraz cracked a backhand down the line winner for 30-15 before missing a routine backhand that could have offered him two break points. Alexander passed his rival for a match point and converted it with a service winner for another notable victory.
