Carlos Alcaraz moved one step closer to reclaiming the world No. 1 spot after a hard-fought 6-7 (2), 7-5, 6-3 victory over Taylor Fritz at the ATP Finals on Tuesday night.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, now 2-0 in the group stage, showed remarkable resilience to bounce back after dropping the opening set in a tiebreaker.
Despite Fritz firing 14 aces and controlling much of the early exchanges, Alcaraz found his rhythm midway through the second set, breaking the American’s serve at 6-5 to level the match.
With momentum firmly on his side, Alcaraz dictated the rallies in the decider, producing 47 winners to Fritz’s 38.
The win means he is now just one victory away from ending the year as world No. 1 for the second time in his career. He can seal it either by beating Lorenzo Musetti in his final group match or by reaching the tournament final.
“It was a really demanding match, both mentally and physically,” Alcaraz said afterward. “I’m happy I managed to stay calm and play my best when it mattered.”
Fritz, who battled knee tendinitis in the third set, admitted his frustration. “My chances were in the second set,” he said. “I just couldn’t finish the big points.”
With Musetti’s win over Alex de Minaur later in the day, Alcaraz also secured his place in the semifinals.