World No. 1 Alexander Zverev and second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz discovered their path to the season-ending title following the official group draw for the 2026 Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
The tournament, which features a total prize pool of $15.75 million, begins on November 12.
Zverev, a two-time champion of the event with titles in 2018 and 2021, headlines the John McEnroe group. He will compete alongside Ben Shelton, Arthur Fils, and Rafael Jodar. The Ivan Lendl group is led by Alcaraz, who is joined by Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, and Frances Tiafoe.
National Representation in Turin
The draw ensures that neither the United States nor Spain will face internal conflicts during the round-robin stage, as both nations are represented by two players each. For Spain, the participation of Alcaraz and Jodar marks the first time in 11 years that two Spanish players have qualified for the tournament. The last such occurrence was in 2015, when Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer were both drawn into the same group.
Djokovic, now 39, did not qualify for the 2026 field, while Jannik Sinner is absent due to injury.
Alcaraz Eyes Maiden Finals Title
Alcaraz enters the tournament seeking his first ATP Finals trophy, having finished as the runner-up last year. His current form is marked by a 10-match winning streak on indoor courts, during which he dropped only a single set. Since returning from injury at the U.S. Open, the 23-year-old has secured titles in Paris, Vienna, and Tokyo.
“This is a tournament I really wanted to win one day,” Alcaraz said after his victory at the Paris Masters. “I will come to the tournament with the experience of previous years, which helped me to improve myself and play better. I am determined to conquer this title.”
Zverev Faces Criticism Amid Competition from Shelton
Zverev remains the top-ranked player in the draw, though he faced recent losses to Alex de Minaur in Vienna and Lorenzo Musetti in Paris. “I feel like I am the only No. 1 in tennis history who has to explain why I deserve to be there,” Zverev shared, describing the criticism as “really unpleasant.”
Ben Shelton, who reached his first Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open, enters the event with a new addition to his team: Alcaraz’s former coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero. “Everything depends on small details,” Shelton said following his loss to Alcaraz in the Paris Masters final. “The difference in our U.S. Open match was those small details, and it was the same in Paris.”
New Participants Join the 2026 ATP Finals
The 2026 ATP Finals in Turin will see four first-time participants: Flavio Cobolli, Rafael Jodar, Arthur Fils, and Frances Tiafoe. Cobolli enters as the primary local hope for Italian fans following Sinner’s withdrawal, while Jodar makes his debut in his first professional season. Daniil Medvedev, the 2020 champion, returns to the field for another attempt at the title.
The undefeated champion of the 2026 event will earn $5.171 million. The players are divided into two groups for the round-robin stage:
- John McEnroe Group: Alexander Zverev (1), Ben Shelton (3), Arthur Fils (6), Rafael Jodar (8).
- Ivan Lendl Group: Carlos Alcaraz (2), Daniil Medvedev (4), Flavio Cobolli (5), Frances Tiafoe (7).
The tournament is scheduled to commence on November 12 in Turin.
Worth a look
