Carlos Alcaraz entered the ATP Finals still adapting to Turin’s lightning-fast indoor courts, especially after an early exit in Paris, where slower conditions favored his heavy topspin. “The conditions here are much faster,” he explained before the match. “There’s no time to lift the ball or add spin. In Paris I had more margin, longer rallies, and the ball felt bigger.”
Against Taylor Fritz, those conditions initially worked against him. The American’s ultra-aggressive pace seemed too much for Alcaraz to absorb, and large stretches of the opening set suggested that Fritz was dictating nearly every exchange. But in a match filled with tactical swings, mental pressure, and razor-thin margins, Alcaraz survived 6–7(2), 7–5, 6–2 — a win that showcased why his movement is perhaps the most feared weapon in men’s tennis.
Fritz’s early aggression caused real problems
The first half of the match belonged to Fritz. His strategy was clear from the opening games:
• He took the ball extremely early, rushing Alcaraz before the Spaniard could generate spin.
• He repeatedly redirected backhands down the line, attacking Alcaraz’s preferred pattern of initiating rallies through his own backhand.
• His first serve was nearly unplayable; Alcaraz struggled to make any impact in Fritz’s service games.
• Alcaraz contributed to his own trouble with several long errors, especially in the tiebreak — but most of them were forced by Fritz’s pressure.
For a while, Fritz made Alcaraz look uncomfortable, even mimicking gestures of frustration as he tried to adjust to the pace. The American played with complete freedom, stepping inside the baseline and dictating exchanges with pace that even Alcaraz couldn’t initially match.
The turning point: one crucial game at 2–2
Momentum began to shift in the second set during a marathon game at 2–2, which lasted nearly 15 minutes. Alcaraz faced break points, but the key moment came when Fritz chose the wrong target — hitting straight into the Spaniard rather than into open space.
This single decision signaled a deeper issue: Fritz was increasingly afraid of Alcaraz’s movement.
Throughout the match, Fritz repeatedly avoided hitting into open courts because he feared Alcaraz would chase the ball down and pass him. This hesitation caused him to hesitate just enough to lose precision.
At 4–4 in the second set, Fritz again had a chance to earn a break point — and once again hit directly at Alcaraz instead of exploiting the open court. Moments later, a similar error on a game point cost him another opportunity. These half-chances were costly in a match where momentum mattered enormously.
A statistical shift that explains the comeback
Perhaps the most striking stat is this: in the final four games of the second set, Alcaraz won 50% of the points even when Fritz was the one attacking. On a fast indoor court against one of the ATP Tour’s biggest hitters, that number is extraordinary.
Fritz’s fear manifested elsewhere too. In both of the service games he lost in sets two and three, he started the game with a forehand error on a short ball — a direct result of overpressing while trying to avoid giving Alcaraz a passing-shot chance.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz’s court positioning reflected his rising confidence. The percentage of shots he hit inside the baseline grew from 30% in the first set to 39% in the third. Fritz’s equivalent number collapsed from 50% to 19%, showing how the American’s control deteriorated completely.
The final phase: Alcaraz rises, Fritz collapses
Once Alcaraz captured the second set, the dynamic flipped. He served more confidently, struck the ball harder, and controlled more rallies. Fritz, who had produced flawless aggression for a set and a half, suddenly lost accuracy and rhythm.
Alcaraz’s athleticism didn’t just keep him in the match — it broke Fritz’s resolve. Every missed opportunity increased the American’s tension, while Alcaraz thrived under pressure, embracing physical exchanges and extending rallies whenever possible.
What comes next
With the win, Alcaraz needs just one more victory to finish the season as the year-end No. 1. His next opponent in the group stage is Lorenzo Musetti — a matchup that promises stylistic contrast and plenty of tactical intrigue.
If Alcaraz continues to blend adaptation, resilience, and world-class movement as he did against Fritz, he remains the player to beat in Turin.
