Alcaraz Aims for Double Glory Against Musetti in Nitto ATP Finals Group Showdown
De Minaur faces a must-win match against Fritz to keep his semi-final hopes alive.
November 12, 2025
ATP
Carlos Alcaraz holds a 6-1 lead over Lorenzo Musetti in their Lexus ATP Head2Head encounters.
By ATP Staff
The Nitto ATP Finals will witness a thrilling conclusion to round-robin play in the Jimmy Connors Group this Thursday, as two spots in the singles semi-finals remain up for grabs.
A victory for Carlos Alcaraz against Lorenzo Musetti will not only secure his top spot in the group but also affirm his status as ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF. Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur needs to defeat Taylor Fritz in straight sets to have a chance at advancing, dependent on Alcaraz’s performance. Currently, Alcaraz tops the group with a 2-0 record, while Fritz and Musetti both sit at 1-1 and de Minaur trails at 0-2.
Doubles matches will also reach a climax in the Peter Fleming Group on Thursday. The Italian duo of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori seeks a flawless round-robin record against Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz, who are looking to end the tournament on a positive note. The spotlight will also shine on a critical match between top-seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool against Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos; only one will advance.
[1] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs. [9] Lorenzo Musetti (ITA)
Fearless on the ATP Tour, the 22-year-old Alcaraz acknowledges the pressure that accompanies this crucial match against Musetti, the local favorite. With the stakes running high, he is fully conscious of what a win would mean.
A victory would grant Alcaraz a perfect 3-0 record in the group and secure his second year-end No. 1 finish in the PIF ATP Rankings, his first since 2022.
“I will try to put my nerves aside,” Alcaraz expressed after a challenging 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-3 comeback against Fritz earlier this tournament. “It’s a significant match for me. I’ll focus on my goals and aim to feel better than I did today.”
Alcaraz’s victory against De Minaur marked his first win at the Nitto ATP Finals, and he followed it with a resilient performance against Fritz despite being a set down. Embracing the day off ahead of his group finale, he appreciates the advantage of extra rest unlike the players in the Bjorn Borg Group.
On the other side, Musetti clinched his first win in a sensational three-set battle against De Minaur, coming back from a break down in the third set to claim victory 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 before an ecstatic home crowd.
“I am a fighter,” Musetti declared. “I’ve significantly enhanced my mental game, pushing my limits against top-tier opponents. Facing Carlos next will be a challenge, but I intend to enjoy the moment and give it my all like I did today.”
Alcaraz and Musetti have clashed at prominent tournaments this season, with Alcaraz triumphing in Monte-Carlo, Rome, and Roland Garros, winning titles at all three events. Despite Musetti’s challenging 1-6 record against Alcaraz, he has managed to snag a set off his rival in two of their three encounters, all on clay surfaces.
Though both hail from clay backgrounds, Alcaraz has adapted his game for success on hard courts. While Musetti enjoys a home advantage, the faster playing conditions may suit the versatile Alcaraz better. Can Musetti unleash his full potential for a stunning upset against the top seed?
[6] Taylor Fritz (USA) vs. [7] Alex de Minaur (AUS)
While both players faced heartbreaking losses on Tuesday, Fritz and De Minaur still have a shot at advancing to the Turin semi-finals. A win for Fritz guarantees his place in the knockout rounds for the third time, while De Minaur needs a straight-sets victory to keep his hopes alive and will be cheering for an Alcaraz win over Musetti.
Following their losses, both players were visibly impacted. De Minaur took his defeat particularly hard, stating, “To truly elevate my career, I cannot afford to lose these types of matches. It’s been mentally challenging for me after a series of close calls this year.”
Frustratingly for De Minaur, this loss marked his six consecutive defeats at the Nitto ATP Finals, now sitting at 0-5 in this prestigious event across two seasons. After an impressive 55 wins this year, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, he will be eager to secure at least one more victory.
Fritz nearly had Alcaraz in a tight spot during their previous encounter. However, after missing key break opportunities, he reflected, “I had my chances, and I’d only say that the most frustrating part was not executing on the opportunities I created.”
Fritz’s aggressive return strategy helped him create break chances, and he hopes to leverage that against De Minaur. While the Aussie may not be as offensive as Alcaraz, he has shown he can dominate on hard courts with a remarkable 42 wins this season—the best on the ATP Tour.
Their Lexus ATP Head2Head stands at an even 5-5, despite not having faced off since Fritz’s two victories in late-season encounters in 2024.
Doubles Action
The Peter Fleming Group’s standings lay out a clear path for Thursday’s matches. Bolelli and Vavassori, with a flawless 4-0 set record, have already secured the group’s top position. Still, they’re in for a challenge as they take on Krawietz and Puetz, who are looking to salvage their title defense in the round-robin stage.
Cash and Glasspool, who earned Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF accolades by defeating the Germans previously, will face third seeds Granollers and Zeballos in what acts as a quarter-final: the victor will advance to the semi-finals.
