Alcaraz, Fritz, and De Minaur Poised to Challenge Each Other in Turin
Djokovic joins the elite trio in the Jimmy Connors Group
November 07, 2025
Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images
Taylor Fritz shone in his Nitto ATP Finals debut last year, reaching the final in Turin.
By ATP Staff
As the excitement builds for the Nitto ATP Finals, Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, and Alex de Minaur are fine-tuning their strategies and embracing the pressure in Turin.
During Friday’s Media Day, this dynamic trio participated in a vibrant photo shoot and engaged in a press conference, preparing for the tournament to kick off on Sunday. Novak Djokovic is also slated to join them in the competitive Jimmy Connors Group after his performance in the Athens ATP 250 final on Saturday.
For World No. 1 Alcaraz, the stakes couldn’t be higher as he vies not only for his inaugural Nitto ATP Finals title but also for the prestigious ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF title.
“This tournament is one of the most significant on our Tour, with players striving all year to qualify, making it truly special,” Alcaraz expressed. “I’m thrilled and highly motivated to deliver a strong performance here and give myself a shot at victory—let’s see what happens.”
As Alcaraz aims to fend off defending champion Jannik Sinner and maintain his top-ranking position in the PIF ATP Rankings, he first has to contend with formidable group opponents. Djokovic is in top form, having advanced to the semi-finals in his last six tournaments, and both Fritz and De Minaur pose unique challenges on the court.
Returning as the Turin finalist, Fritz boasts of round-robin wins over De Minaur and Daniil Medvedev, along with a semi-final win against Alexander Zverev in the previous tournament.
“I felt I played exceptional tennis throughout the week,” said Fritz, reflecting on his impactful training before the event. “Reaching the final was a fantastic outcome for me. Beating Zverev in that semi-final tie-break was definitely a highlight,” the American recalled.
The vibe from the Turin crowd also left a lasting impression on Fritz: “Even with my matches against Jannik, the audience was incredibly welcoming and supportive, which made the experience even better.”
De Minaur, aiming for his first match win in the Nitto ATP Finals during his second appearance, arrives with an impressive 42-14 record on hard courts, marking the highest tour-level victories on this surface this season, as per the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. His total of 55 wins this year is a personal record, surpassing his previous best of 48.
“I’m genuinely pleased with my achievements this year. I’ve shown remarkable consistency and managed to perform well on this surface,” said the Aussie, who clinched the title in Washington, D.C., and reached the Rotterdam final.
“As we look ahead, it’s clear we’re in a challenging group. Each of us is capable of delivering top-notch performances and testing each other. But we’re all looking forward to the competition; this is the final tournament of the year, and it’s a chance to showcase our hard work throughout the season,” he concluded.
As the seventh seed in Turin, De Minaur secured his spot by reaching the quarter-finals at the Rolex Paris Masters, just one week before the end of the regular season. While he is relieved to have qualified, he has expressed sympathy for Felix Auger-Aliassime and Lorenzo Musetti, who are still in a race for the last Nitto ATP Finals spot. If Musetti triumphs against Djokovic in Saturday’s Athens final, he will surpass Auger-Aliassime for the eighth spot.
“At this time of year, it does get a bit nerve-wracking, waiting to see how the qualifications unfold and who’s winning,” De Minaur added. “Yet, I’m genuinely excited to return here!”
