Alcaraz outlasts Fritz in three-set thriller at Nitto ATP Finals

  • Posted: Nov 11, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz stayed firmly on course for his maiden Nitto ATP Finals crown on Tuesday, when he rallied past Taylor Fritz in a pulsating two-hour, 48-minute clash.

In front of a packed crowd inside Inalpi Arena, the top-seeded Spaniard produced a stirring comeback to prevail 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-3 and remain unbeaten at 2-0 in the Jimmy Connors Group. Last year’s runner-up Fritz looked poised to claim his second indoor win over Alcaraz in 2025, but the 22-year-old turned the tide with a blend of resilience and shotmaking brilliance — highlighted by a marathon 14-minute service hold in the second set.

Alcaraz can now qualify for the semi-finals if Alex de Minaur defeats debutant Lorenzo Musetti later on Tuesday. He has also moved to within 50 points of securing ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours over rival Jannik Sinner.

The highlight of the match came early in the second set, when Alcaraz — facing break point at 2-2 — conjured a bit of magic to escape a losing rally before charging the net for a crisp volley winner. That effort was one of many in a marathon 14-minute service hold and proved to spark a momentum shift.

Having saved both break points he faced in the second set, Alcaraz then benefitted from a slice of luck in the decisive 12th game. A shovelled backhand return at 0/15 clipped the net cord, wrong-footing Fritz and opening the door for Alcaraz, who converted his second set point before taking firm control of the decider en route to improving to 5-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

More to follow…

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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