Day three of action at the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals opened with a world-class tennis display, which saw top seed Carlos Alcaraz clinching a comeback 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-3 win against American No. 1 racquet Taylor Fritz, earning a 2-0 lead in the Jimmy Connors Group.
“It was pretty tight, I was struggling more than him in the first set,” outlined the Spanish player courtside. “I wasn’t serving well, and I think he was pretty comfortable from the baseline, from everywhere…”
At stake for the 22-year-old Spaniard is not only a maiden trophy at the prestigious venue but also the chance to secure the year-end No. 1 for the first time since 2022, a fitting end to a standout season he leads with 69 wins and eight titles under his belt.
Their second round-robin match, just shy of three hours, saw Fritz play one of his best matches this season, making an aggressive start in a gruelling first set, staying dominant on serve.
The American player faced heavy pressure from the get-go, fending off two break points, while firing three aces on the way to taking a dramatic 18-minute opening game.
It was just the beginning of an elite contest that brought both title contenders to the edge physically and mentally.
With a trade of breaks exchanged and several jaw-dropping rallies later, they pushed one another into a tiebreak that the sixth seed took 7-6(2) over Alcaraz in 70 minutes.
From there, the Murcia native made the most of his skill set, showcasing grit and power in extended baseline rallies.
Ultimately, he notched the break in the 12th game, sealing the second set 7-5 in 59 minutes.
In the decider, Alcaraz stood tall, dropping just three points across his first three serve games before converting a clinical break to lead 4-2.
Despite facing break points on his serve, he continued to dig deep, holding his ground with tenacity to emerge victorious 6-3 after a memorable fight.
“I was really relieved after the win because of everything I went through during the match,” added Alcaraz. “I wasn’t feeling the ball as well as I was in the first round, but I’m really happy that I found a way to come back and find a weakness from him.”
The world number one hit 46 winners against 16 unforced errors, won 74 percent of the points on his first serve and 52 percent on his second delivery, and saved 8 of 9 break points he faced throughout the match.
Next, the 24-time ATP titlist will square off against debutant Lorenzo Musetti, who earned his maiden triumph at the event against seventh seed Alex de Minaur in an epic evening session.
The pair delivered a three-setter for the ages, moved by an unrelenting fighting spirit, the Italian turned the match around 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in two hours and 47 minutes.
“I was really struggling physically because Alex raised the level and intensity, and I was really struggling to find the solution,” he commented in his on-court interview.
“But at the end, with a big heart and big passion for this game, I don’t know from where, I started to feel better and play better, and the support of the crowd is amazing. I have to thank them all.”
The 23-year-old is on a personal-best 44 wins this season, having cracked into the top 10 for the first time early in May after falling at the Madrid Open semifinals to eventual runner-up Jack Draper.
Alcaraz leads the world number nine 6-1 in the series, having met three times this season (Monte-Carlo Masters, French Open, Italian Open), with the former prevailing over the latter.
If Alcaraz wins his third round-robin match against Musetti, he will guarantee the year-end number one, finishing atop in the Jimmy Connors Group on Thursday.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner is also in contention to finish at the top of the rankings, a feat he could achieve for the second straight year if he finishes his run unbeaten.