Carlos Alcaraz got his ATP Finals campaign off to a strong start on Sunday, defeating Alex de Minaur 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in Turin. The Spaniard overcame a tough first-set challenge to assert control and secure his fifth consecutive win over the Australian.
Alcaraz, who is ranked world No. 2, faced early resistance in the opening set. After racing to a 4-1 lead, he allowed De Minaur to fight back and force a tiebreak. Alcaraz regained his composure to win the set and then dominated the second to seal the victory.
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“It was a really difficult match,” Alcaraz said. “On this surface, Alex makes the most of the speed of the ball, he’s super fast and really difficult on return. I’m just really happy to get through this challenge and with how I’m playing.”
Alcaraz and De Minaur are in the Jimmy Connors group alongside Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti, who replaced the injured Novak Djokovic.