Alcaraz win secures year-end No. 1 spot again

Carlos Alcaraz locked up the year-end No. 1 ranking for the second season on Thursday, producing a 6-4 6-1 defeat of Lorenzo Musetti to reach the ATP 

Finals an undefeated 3-0.

The Spaniard with six Grand Slam titles and 70 wins this season pulled away from his tiring Italian opponent after an hour in their final group match in Turin, with the Alcaraz victory landing Alex de Minaur in the final four.

The Australian won his first match after five losses at the season wrapup, defeating 2024 finalist Taylor Fritz 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner will play his third and final group match on Friday and will face De Minaur in a Saturday semi.

The semi-final opponent for Alcaraz will be determined as world No. 3 Alexander Zverev faces Felix Auger-Aiassaime in a Friday night closing group match.

Alcaraz said that while glad to pick up his second year-end top ranking, he still has a job to do at the tournament, due to remain in the northern Italian city for next year.

“This is probably a weight off my shoulders,: he said, “Taking No. 1 was a really important goal for me.

“But this tournament is also really important. I’m excited to qualify into the semi-finals and will hopefully get to the final.

“Part of the job is done but the rest is still going. I’m excited.”

Alcaraz simply wore down Musetti, the recent Athens finalist who cam back home with just a day between events.

The pair stuck close over the first set, with Alcaraz securing a break for 6-4 to claim the opener after three-quarters of an hour.

But with his legs a weak point,the Italian was unable to keep pace in the second as Alcaraz sprinted to victory on his third match point – a service winner.

The Spaniard finished with 26 winners while Musetti could only uster eight in his losing effort.”I had a lot of nerves in the beginning and through the first set,” he said. “I tried to handle the pressure as best I could.

“I”m happy with the match and the level I played.”

Three years ago, Alcaraz became the youngest year-end world No. 1 inATP history.
He has reached the finals of nine consecutive tournaments since Monte Carlo last April through the Japan Open Tennis in Tokyo two months ago

Main photo:-Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning World No. 1 crown – by ISF