ATP Tour

Alcaraz eyes Federer, Sampras & co's footsteps in bid for Nitto ATP Finals glory

For Carlos Alcaraz, the stakes could hardly be higher at the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals.

Not only is the Spaniard within touching distance of reclaiming ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours, but he is also chasing his first title at the prestigious season finale, with which he would enter elite company.

Should Alcaraz triumph in Turin, he would become the 12th man to win the Nitto ATP Finals while competing as the World No. 1, joining the likes of fellow ATP No. 1 Club members Jannik Sinner, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Pete Sampras. It is a distinction that has long symbolised both dominance and endurance — the mark of a player capable of finishing the season at the top, and proving it against the very best.

Since Ilie Nastase first set the benchmark in 1973, only 11 men have managed to conquer the Nitto ATP Finals while holding the No. 1 spot in the PIF ATP Rankings.

The four players who have triumphed at the season finale while as World No. 1 at least three times — Djokovic, Federer, Sampras and Lendl — also boast the most overall weeks spent at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings. They have held No. 1 for a total of 1,294 weeks, underlining how exclusive that territory is.

It’s a reminder that this achievement belongs firmly to the game’s elite. To conquer the Nitto ATP Finals as the best player in the world takes sustained dominance, mental resilience, and the ability to rise to the moment.

Federer and Djokovic have embodied that standard over the past two decades. Federer’s three titles as World No. 1 showcased his indoor mastery and sustained excellence during the mid-2000s, while Djokovic’s record-setting forays — including four as No. 1 — have highlighted his decade-spanning dominance.

Andy Murray’s 2016 triumph remains one of the most emotional chapters in Nitto ATP Finals history, as his victory over Djokovic in the title match sealed his Year-End No. 1 finish for the first and only time in front of an adoring London crowd.

_{^{Andy Murray wins the 2016 Nitto ATP Finals and claims ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours. Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images.}} 

Out of the 52 champions crowned at the Nitto ATP Finals since 1973, 21 have done so while competing as the World No. 1. For Alcaraz, unbeaten so far in Jimmy Connors Group after wins against Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz, the challenge now is to turn opportunity into history.

A title for the 22-year-old Spaniard would not only cap a standout season, during which he has already won a Tour-best eight trophies. It would also add a major milestone to his fast-growing resume, placing him alongside icons who have ended their seasons on top of the sport.