By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 9, 2025
Photo: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty
Arriving in Turin after a poor defeat in Paris, Carlos Alcaraz faced fading prospects of breaking even.
In a mini-break, Alcaraz launched a laser line show to light up his Torino opener.
Alcaraz burned the winners at the line, going back Alex de Minaur 7-6(5), 6-2 in his ATP Finals opener today.
The second-ranked Spaniard hit 11 back-to-back winners to overcome a poor stretch of play in the first set with a gritty finish. Alcaraz hit 32 winners – 20 more than the Demon – and converted four of seven break points as de Minaur was two points from the first set, 5-4 in the tiebreaker.
“I was serving well, I was playing well, that 4-1 40-love I couldn’t do, it was important in the first set,” said Alcaraz. Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj. “After that, I struggled a bit. I think he raised his level and his game a bit more, which I think was normal. He always tries to find solutions.
“In the tiebreak, I tried to stay strong mentally, stay strong to create my chances and opportunities. I’m very happy that I did it. Then in the second set, I pulled all the nerves out. I tried to enjoy myself even more and play my style and I’m very happy that I was able to do it.”
Go to a flyer ✈️
World number 1 @carlosalcaraz defeats Alex de Minaur 7-6 6-2 in his 2025 #NittoATPFinals opening 👊 pic.twitter.com/Z1xHzRWTPI
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 9, 2025
The victory begins Alcaraz’s bid to overtake Torino’s defending champion Jannik Sinner to capture the No. 1 in the world at the end of the year and makes him the early leader in the Jimmy Connors group for round games.
“I think for me the most important thing to come here at the end of the year is to feel good physically, to feel healthy or as healthy as I can,” Alcaraz said. “I tried to be focused on what I want to improve to play this tournament. I did very important physical preparation, I practiced well. My focus is to adapt as much as I can on the indoor court and play aggressive and good tennis here.”
Holding three break points in the sixth game, Alcaraz was one point out of a 5-1 doubles lead. Then de Minaur found his first serve at the right time to deny all three break points to hold for 2-4.
That spirited attitude – combined with Alcaraz holding back on a routine shorthand – helped the Aussies break for the first time to return to serve at 3-4.
The seventh-seeded Aussie completely changed the script of the first set. De Minaur drilled his second ace of the match closing out a love hold to force the tiebreaker.
An impatient Alcaraz sometimes overshot and de Minaur took advantage of the Spaniard’s quick instincts. De Minaur pressed a short forehand and then won the mini-break for a 5-3 lead in the tie, while Alcaraz sailed a backhand.
Serving at 5-4, de Minaur couldn’t get his first serve out. Alcaraz threw a great level shot. When the Aussie scored a lead, Alcaraz won set point. Alcaraz ended a tight 62-minute set when de Minaur flew a winger to the byline.
An empowered Alcaraz charged with a triple break point to start the second set. Lining up with two hands, Alcaraz blasted a shot back to make it 1-0 after 68 minutes.
Although de Minaur won back the break when Alcaraz served two-handed from the bar, the Austrian’s serve was attacked again in the third game.
Entering the court, Alcaraz burned his two-hander down the line again scoring his second break in a row for a 2-1 lead in the second set.
This time, Alcaraz made the break stay cool with a love stop to consolidate for 3-1.
Although de Minaur’s waits and quick forehand are two weapons that help him lead the ATP Tour in hard-court wins this year, Alcaraz administered a lethal dose of line moves to break again.
Scorching a pair of backhand winners down the line – Alcaraz hit nine backhand winners until then – the Spaniard earned another break point.
An airborne Alcaraz rocketed a rising forehand down the line for his third straight break and a 4-1 lead.
A hard shot in front of the line gave Alcaraz a second match point. Cutting in, the Spaniard hit a clean sweep at the back to close in on 100 minutes.
