ATP Tour

Alcaraz breaks spell in Turin: 'I’ve finally started with a win'

It has taken Carlos Alcaraz three years to kick off with a win at the Nitto ATP Finals. Three years of learning, of getting used to a different format, and of understanding that there is no room for slow starts in Turin.

On Sunday, when he defeated Alex de Minaur in his opening match, the Spaniard finally made the start he wanted in the event that brings together the best eight players of the season.

“Opening the tournament with a win is always nice, it’s always good. It can really give you a significant confidence boost for the next matches,” explained the six-time Grand Slam champion.

Alcaraz admitted to a few nerves at the start – the pressure of match one at the Nitto ATP Finals is always there – but he was happy to have started with victory at an event where the finer details can make all the difference. “Ultimately, if you win a match here it’s because you’ve played really well, because your level is very high,” said the 22-year-old.

“And that, in terms of sending a message to the other players and even to yourself, is very positive. I’ve been playing here for three years and it’s the first time I’ve won the first match, so I’m pleased with that. I’ll try to keep improving on the small things I didn’t do well today. I’m feeling really motivated for the next matches.”

In 2023, the year of his debut at the tournament, Alcaraz lost his first clash to Alexander Zverev. Last year, the result was the same when he faced Casper Ruud in the first match. Now, in 2025, the Spaniard has come through a tough opener against De Minaur, a win he celebrated by lifting his arms to the sky. He finally has his perfect start at the season finale.

Alcaraz’s analysis of the encounter also touched on some technical points. In Turin, where the speed of the indoor surface is significant, he compared the conditions to those of Paris, his last tournament. “I also think it depends a bit on the speed of the court. Here, everything’s much faster, there’s no time to put spin on it or to hit topspin, so the angles don’t open up. In Paris we had more time to play, with more margin and more topspin. The serve wasn’t as damaging, there were a lot more rallies and much longer points, and that made the ball bigger. The balls are similar, but here we can do a little more damage because of the speed of the court.”

With that blend of detailed analysis and unswerving ambition, the World No. 2 left no doubt about his mentality; in Turin, he will not rest on his laurels, and nor will he be choosing one goal over another. The Spaniard was asked if he would rather win here or at the Davis Cup next week in Malaga with his country. The answer was true to character: “Why not both? I think that’s the question. Why choose one when you can fight for both?” responded the 22-year-old.

“Although there are many years left, I’ll also have many years to play the Davis Cup, because it’s annual. Hopefully I can represent Spain for many years to come, but we’ll try and fight for both this year, and every year that we have the chance.”

With an opening win at this year’s Nitto ATP Finals, Alcaraz will be feeling more settled, more comfortable on the surface and, above all, he will feel his learnings from a tournament he has often struggled at are finally starting to pay dividends.