The Nitto ATP Finals continue on Tuesday with the second singles matches of the Jimmy Connors Group. Top seed Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz aim for their second consecutive victories in Turin, while Alex De Minaur and Lorenzo Musetti will increase their hopes of qualification during their evening clash.
Both Fritz and Musetti find themselves in the unique situation of playing group stage matches on consecutive days, a result of Musetti’s participation in the Athens final last Saturday.
In doubles, top-seeded British players Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool seek redemption after an initial loss as they face the German duo of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz. Meanwhile, Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori will open the day against the third-seeded pairing of Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos.
Carlos Alcaraz celebrated his first victory in the group stage during his three appearances at the Nitto ATP Finals by defeating Alex De Minaur 7-6(5), 6-2 on Sunday. With two more victories in Turin, regardless of round, Alcaraz could secure the year-end No. 1 ranking, an honor presented by PIF, effectively sidelining Jannik Sinner.
After a month since his last match, which ended in a loss to Cameron Norrie in Paris, Alcaraz returned to winning ways with a promising performance at the Inalpi Arena. “It sends a very positive message to other players, and even to myself, with this victory,” Alcaraz remarked after breaking De Minaur’s serve four times.
Fritz also enters Tuesday’s crucial match following a win, having defeated Musetti 6-3, 6-4 on Monday. The American, currently in a tight competition for the No. 1 U.S. ranking with first-time participant Ben Shelton, draws on his experience from competing in last year’s final in Turin and the semifinal in 2022. Notably, he has never been eliminated during the group stages at the Nitto ATP Finals. “Every time I come here, I love the conditions and it’s easy to motivate myself,” said Fritz.
In a must-win situation for both De Minaur and Musetti, the match holds significant importance for maintaining their chances of advancing. Following a straight-set loss in their group stage debut, both players are desperately seeking victory to sway the course of their tournament. De Minaur, yet to secure a win in his five matches at Turin, faced Alcaraz with determination.
Musetti holds the edge over De Minaur with a 3-1 head-to-head record, having won their last three encounters, including two this year on clay. De Minaur hopes that the faster surface in Turin will play a vital role in his favor, remembering his sole victory over Musetti on hard courts during the 2022 Australian Open.
In doubles action, Bolelli and Vavassori captivated their local supporters with a victory over Cash and Glasspool. Additionally, Granollers and Zeballos thwarted last season’s champions, Krawietz and Puetz, in their opening match of the tournament.
As these thrilling encounters unfold, the spotlight remains on the ATP Finals as players showcase their skills and determination with hopes of concluding the season on a high note.