A fiery connection between Carlos Alcaraz and Lorenzo Musetti was a classic in the first set. The partisan crowd inside the Inalpi Arena was engaged, even pulsating. Musetti, meanwhile, fed off their intensity and showed his elegant game early on as the pair marched through four braces each.
It then broke down and Alcaraz took a moment to put Musetti on his heels. Once again it was big-time tennis in big moments that put Alcarazi on top, this time for a career-best 70th win of the season.
The top-ranked Spaniard turned the screws in the tenth game of the opening set and created a break of service on his second chance, leaving Musetti frustrated and the crowd deflated at times.
Musetti held his own in the set, playing inspired tennis, but there was nothing to show for it. In the end he could not avoid his seventh straight decision to Alcaraz, 6-4, 6-2, as the Spaniard booked his place as an unbeaten semi-finalist and also locked up the coveted year-end No.1 ranking for the second time, and the first time since doing so as a teenager in 2022.
“The match was really important for me,” said Alcaraz. “Playing for No. 1. So it wasn’t easy at first with nerves. I had to be focused and try to handle that pressure as best as I could. I’m very happy with the match and the level I played today, and I can definitely finish the year at No. 1.”
Alcaraz wins the group unbeaten Jimmy Connors and Alex de Minaur, who beat Taylor Fritz on Thursday for his first ever ATP Finals win, moves into second place.
Alcaraz will face the winner of Friday’s clash between Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals, while De Minaur will face Sinner in Saturday’s semi-final.
Weathering the storm in the opening set, Alcaraz was able to take control of proceedings. He would soon break for 3-1 in the second set and that would be all he needed on the day.
Alcaraz took the second set and finished the match winning eight of the last nine games as Musetti faded along with the raucous cacophony that had been there at the start of the match.
The Spaniard finished with 26 winners to Musetti’s eight and he broke serve three times in five chances.
Musetti managed two break opportunities with Alcaraz serving at 3-1 in the second set, but they both went begging and the world No.1 completed his mission in a relatively comfortable 83 minutes.
“It was a very important goal for me to end the year as No. 1, but obviously this tournament is very important for me – I’m excited to qualify for the semi-finals and give myself to play another semi-final here. I’d say part of the work is done, but the rest of the work is still going on – I’m excited to continue.”
