Unlike a year ago, Carlos Alcaraz will not compete in the last four at the ATP Finals in Turin. World no. 3 suffered a 7-6, 6-4 loss to world no. 2 Alexander Zverev in an hour and 57 minutes, finishing his campaign with a 1-2 score and ending his campaign.
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The Spaniard lost a tight opener after 65 minutes, throwing his racquet toward his bag and shouting toward his box. Thus, Carlos missed another chance to claim his first indoor ATP title, experiencing a setback like at the Paris Masters and turning his focus on the Davis Cup Finals.
Alcaraz owns a calm and controlled game, producing his best tennis while smiling. The young gun will finish the season ranked 3rd behind Sinner and Zverev. Hesufferedtough losses but wrappedup the year with two Major trophies on his tally, which is always the most important thing.
What went wrong for Alcaraz vs.Zverev?
Like a year ago, Alexander and Carlos battled in Turin, and the more experienced rival repeated the outcome from 12 months ago. It was a tight battle, and the German prevailed in the pivotal moments, serving well and keeping the pressure on his opponent. Alcarazcracked under it and suffered his sixth loss in 11 duels against Zverev.
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The Spaniard defeated the German in their previous two matches this year, including the Roland Garros final. Alexander was the favorite on the fast indoor court in Turin and proved that with rock-solid numbers. Alexander based his good pace on the initial shot, landing in 79% of the first serve.
He denied both break points in the only troubled service game and challenged his opponent to follow those numbers. Carlos played against eight break points and saved seven, reaching a tie break in the opening set and suffering an early break in the second that would cost him dearly.
The two-time champion held everything under control after hitting 29 direct points and 19 unforced mistakes. He bested the 21-year-old's 26-29 ratio, with Carlos making uncharacteristic mistakes in the pivotal points. Alexander had the upper hand from the baseline after forging the lead inthe shortest and most advanced exchanges.
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The first set turns intoa 65-minute drama
For the second straight year in Turin, these two played a nail-biting opener, pushing each other to the limits for over an hour. Zverev could have secured it earlier, serving well and generating seven break chances, including a set point. Alcaraz denied them and stayed in touch before falling in the tie break and showing frustration.
The Spaniard played against two break points in the second game of the match. He erased them with service winners and held, locking the result at 1-1. The two-time champion grabbed the third game with a service winner and made another push on the return a few minutes later.
Alexander landed a smash winner for three break points, and Carlos denied them with winners. Zverev missed a routine backhand on the fourth break opportunity before his rival held for 2-2. The German closed the fifth game with a booming serve and reached another deuce on the return before the Spaniard closed the game.
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World no. 2 secured the ninth game after a deuce before the four-time Major winner clinched the next one at love for 5-5. Alexander opened a 6-5 gap with an unreturned serve and generated a set point in the next one with a smash winner. He missed a forehand and allowed his opponent to bring the game home and introduce a tie break.
Zverev was 3-2 up when the servers lost the ground, with five consecutive mini-breaks. Alcaraz climbed back from 2-5, taking two return points and increasing his chances. Still, he played a wayward backhand in the tenth point and presented his rival with two set points.
The second developed into a thrilling point, and Alexander converted it at the net, building the advantage and leaving stunned rival in disbelief.
Zverev grabs an early break in the second set and wins
The young gun missed a game point in the first game of the second set and placed a slice into the net to lose serve and find himself in a tough position. He played a terrible forehand in the second game, with Alexander holding at love and moving 2-0 in front.
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Carlos held after deuces in the third game, reducing the deficit and hoping to generate his chances on the return. The German closed the fourth game with an ace but faced issues at 3-2, playing against two break points. World no. 2savedthe first with a service winner and welcomed a lose forehand from the other side on the secod, holding and moving 4-2 up.
Zverev clinched the eighth game with an ace and served for his third win in Turin at 5-4. Alcaraz fired a backhand winner for 30-15 and a glimpse of a chance. However, he sprayed a backhand error in the fourth point that could have given him two break points.
Alexander passed his rival at the net at 30-30 for a match point and landed a service winner, sealing the deal in style and leaving the round-robin stage with a perfect 3-0 score.
