Carlos Alcaraz Targets ATP Finals Title in Turin

Carlos Alcaraz enters the 2024 ATP Finals in Turin seeking to win more professional trophies.

The tournament, held at the Inalpi Arena, is a major career milestone for the 23-year-old as he competes against a field that includes top-ranked Alexander Zverev.

Alcaraz Maintains Momentum Heading into Italy

Alcaraz arrives in Italy following a victory at the ATP Masters 1000 in Paris, a result that solidified his momentum late in the season. Since returning from a wrist injury sustained at the US Open in late August, the Spaniard has won 21 of his 23 matches, including titles in Tokyo, Vienna, and Paris.

Despite this form, Alcaraz faces a challenging path.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner remains sidelined until January, and Zverev, a two-time winner of the event, enters as a primary contender. When asked about his status as a tournament favorite, Alcaraz emphasized that the designation is outside his control. “Ob ich der Favorit bin oder nicht, oder ob ich mich als Favorit fühle oder nicht – ehrlich gesagt liegt das nicht in meiner Hand,” Alcaraz told reporters.

Managing Mental Pressure

The path to the season finale has required adjustments for the seven-time Grand Slam champion. Alcaraz said that his recent matches have not followed the dominant patterns seen earlier in his career, citing frequent tiebreaks and demanding moments against lower-ranked opponents. Following a quarterfinal match against Taylor Fritz in Paris where he saved two match points, Alcaraz reflected on the psychological demands of the sport.

“Ich musste viele schwierige Momente bewältigen,” Alcaraz said, describing the internal struggle to maintain a positive mindset during high-pressure points. He added that he had to consciously remind himself that tennis is ultimately a game, a realization that helped him manage his nerves during the tournament.

Carlos Alcaraz First Practice at Nitto ATP Finals 2026 — SpinAce Tennis

Competition for Year-End Rankings

The ATP Finals serve as a critical opportunity for Alcaraz to narrow the gap in the world rankings behind Zverev and Sinner. The task is complicated by the start of the 2025 season, where Alcaraz must defend 2,000 points as the reigning Australian Open champion.

The proximity of the two stars was highlighted in Turin when Zverev and Alcaraz shared the Inalpi Arena for training sessions. Their potential meeting on November 22 in the tournament final remains a focal point for observers. Alcaraz expressed his intent to compete for the title, noting he carries “zusätzliche Motivation” and “Vorfreude und Energie” into the event.

Tournament Context

The ATP Finals continue through the final week of November, with the championship match scheduled for November 22. Players are currently finalizing their preparation on the indoor hard courts of the Inalpi Arena.