Carlos Alcaraz beats Alex De Minaur, dominates Nitto ATP Finals opener with straight-sets win

Carlos Alcaraz began his 2025 Nitto ATP Finals campaign with a commanding straight-sets victory over Alex de Minaur. The world No. 1 top seed triumphed 7-6(5), 6-2 in Turin, marking his first-ever opening win at the elite season-ending event. This performance has set a strong tone for the Spaniard's pursuit of his maiden title.

What happened in the game?

Carlos Alcaraz started explosively at the Inalpi Arena, racing to a 4-1 lead with just 25 minutes. His aggressive shotmaking and building a 40/0 advantage on serve were remarkable. However, Alex De Minaur fought back fiercely, levelling the set and pushing it to a tiebreak.

The tiebreak tested Alcaraz's resolve. Trailing twice on mini-breaks, he rallied from 3-5 down, winning four consecutive points to seal the set. Despite tallying 21 winners against 19 unforced errors in the opener, Alcaraz's boldness paid off.

“This tournament is one of the best tournaments we have on Tour, without a doubt,” Alcaraz said. “We are playing against the best players in the world, which shows how difficult and important it is."

Second set mastery seals the win

In the second set, Carlos Alcaraz refined his game. He reduced errors while maintaining high-octane aggression, quickly building another lead. Alex De Minaur, on the other hand, known for his speed and return prowess on fast surfaces, couldn't keep pace. Alcaraz closed out the match in 1 hour and 40 minutes, extending his head-to-head dominance to 5-0.

“It was a really difficult match,” said Alcaraz. “On this surface, Alex makes the most of the speed of the ball. He is super fast and really difficult on return. I am just really happy to get through this really difficult challenge, and happy with how I am playing (going into) the next matches.”

This win erases past opening-round frustrations for Alcaraz, who lost to Alexander Zverev in 2023 and Casper Ruud in 2024.

Boosting bid for year-end No. 1 ranking

The victory has added 200 points to Alcaraz's tally, narrowing the gap in his chase for ATP Year-End No. 1. He now needs just 250 more points to overtake Jannik Sinner and claim the honour for the first time since 2022. Each round-robin win is worth 200 points, making every match crucial.

Next challenge in Jimmy Connors' group

Carlos Alcaraz stays in the Jimmy Connors Group and is set to play next on Tuesday against either Taylor Fritz or Lorenzo Musetti. A win there could propel him closer to the semifinals and solidify his No. 1 ambitions.