Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his ATP Finals campaign in Turin on Sunday with a commanding straight-sets victory over Alex de Minaur, marking a significant milestone in his season-ending tournament history. The World No. 2 secured his first opening match victory at the season finale, bouncing back from previous defeats to Novak Djokovic in 2023 and Alexander Zverev in 2024.
Following the match, Alcaraz addressed questions about Djokovic’s dramatic withdrawal and Lorenzo Musetti’s late entry into the competition.
Carlos Alcaraz’s Commanding Performance Against De Minaur and Words on Lorenzo Musetti’s Qualification
Alcaraz defeated de Minaur with a scoreline of 7-6(5), 6-2 in one hour and 42 minutes at the Inalpi Arena, extending his head-to-head record to 5-0 against the Australian. The opening set proved competitive, with Alcaraz racing to a 4-1 lead within the first 25 minutes before de Minaur fought back to force a tiebreak. Trailing 5-3 in that tiebreak, Alcaraz demonstrated his mental fortitude by reeling off four consecutive points to claim the opener.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with both players trading breaks early before Alcaraz seized control. The top seed broke de Minaur’s serve twice to establish a 4-1 lead and ultimately closed out the match with complete dominance.
TORINO! ❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/GknTiQMoh8
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) November 9, 2025
Alcaraz hit 32 winners and 28 unforced errors, reflecting his aggressive approach throughout the match. When questioned about facing Djokovic versus Musetti in his group, Alcaraz provided a candid assessment.
“Obviously, someone like Novak being in the group is always tough. The experience he has in this tournament, the level he has on the indoor court, it’s quite good. I lost to him in 2023, and I played great. He killed me,” Alcaraz said while smiling.
However, he then admitted his preference, stating, “To be honest, I prefer Lorenzo. I’m not going to lie,” which drew laughter from the assembled media. Despite this, Alcaraz was quick to praise Musetti’s achievement. “If he’s there, he deserves it because of the level he has put on the matches and the tournaments he has done this year. It was really, really high,” he said. “But I’m sure he’s going to do great, and let’s see how is going to be,” the Spaniard concluded.
Djokovic’s Historic Triumph at Athens Followed by Surprising Withdrawal
Musetti faced a decisive Athens final to secure his maiden ATP Finals appearance, requiring victory over the great Serb to surpass Felix Auger-Aliassime for the eighth and final qualifying spot. However, Djokovic produced a signature performance to defeat him 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a grueling three-hour final, confirming Auger-Aliassime’s qualification for Turin.
Djokovic’s triumph delivered multiple career milestones for the 38-year-old Serbian legend. The win marked his record-breaking 101st career title, positioning him as only the third man in history to reach the century mark alongside Roger Federer with 103 titles and Jimmy Connors with 109.
More significantly, the Athens championship provided Djokovic with his 72nd hard-court title, surpassing Federer’s previous record of 71 and cementing his status as the most successful hard-court player in the Open Era.
The victory also marked Djokovic’s 18th qualification for the ATP Finals, tying him with Federer for the most times qualifying for the prestigious season finale. This extraordinary record underscores the consistency and longevity of both players at professional tennis’s highest level.
However, merely an hour after claiming the trophy, Djokovic announced his withdrawal from the ATP Finals due to an ongoing shoulder injury. This marked the second consecutive season in which Djokovic has opted out of the ATP Finals due to injury, having last competed in 2023 when he defeated Jannik Sinner in the final.
Following Djokovic’s withdrawal, the ATP confirmed that Musetti would replace the seven-time champion in the Jimmy Connors Group. This marked the first-ever ATP Finals appearance for the 23-year-old Italian, whose impressive season warranted consideration even as a replacement.
Musetti reached the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 final and advanced to the semifinals of ATP Masters 1000 events in Madrid, Rome, and Vienna during his career-best season.
