TURIN, Italy — Carlos Alcaraz was the massive title lacking when the final two semifinal spots had been crammed on the ATP Finals on Friday.
Alcaraz’s 7-6 (5), 6-4 loss to Alexander Zverev meant the French Open and Wimbledon champion, who has been sick this week, was eradicated from the elite, eight-man event.
In Saturday’s semifinals, Zverev will meet Taylor Fritz and top-ranked Jannik Sinner will play Casper Ruud.
“My aim [is] to be on the finish [of tournaments] on a regular basis,” Alcaraz stated. “Each event that I’ll play at the least attain the semifinal, remaining. So I’ve to work. … In 2025, I hope to be a greater participant and [have] extra consistency.”
Ruud superior by beating Andrey Rublev 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
Zverev completed with an ideal three victories to win his round-robin group. Ruud had two wins, Alcaraz had one, and Rublev had none.
Alcaraz turned on the fashion within the remaining recreation however misplaced an important level when he could not totally attain a Zverev passing try and ended up sprawled on the court docket.
“He turns into a special individual. He actually performs his greatest at an important moments,” Zverev stated. “The final recreation was probably the most entertaining recreation of the match.”
Sinner gained the opposite group forward of Fritz.
Alcaraz once more wore a pink nostril strip after fighting respiratory points in his opening loss to Ruud.
Zverev leapfrogged Alcaraz to No. 2 within the rankings this week and took a 6-5 edge of their profession conferences.
It was a measure of revenge for Zverev, who was crushed by Alcaraz in 5 units within the French Open remaining.
Zverev has larger objectives than reaching No. 2 for subsequent yr.
“It is no secret, I am trying to find that Grand Slam title. I am trying to find world No. 1,” he stated. “If it is not Roland Garros, however it’s Australia, I am going to signal the paper proper now.”
Alcaraz was already looking forward to Malaga and subsequent week’s Davis Cup finals, the place he’ll play for Spain in Rafael Nadal’s swansong.
“I actually need him to retire with a title,” Alcaraz stated. “It should be actually, actually emotional and a extremely particular event for me.”