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Carlos Alcaraz was left ruing a few “key moments” he failed to capitalise on in his match against Alexander Zverev at the Nitto ATP Finals. The defeat at the hands of the German, which means he is almost certainly knocked out of Turin, tipped their Lexus ATP Head2Head in favour of his opponent (6-5). The Murcia native’s focus will now be on the Davis Cup Final 8, where he will join Rafael Nadal to represent Spain.

“The tie-break was pretty close, with a lot of points I could have played better,” lamented the No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “At 6/5, I don’t know what I was thinking when I tried to volley that ball... That’s tennis for you; you have to make choices in less than a second and sometimes you get it wrong.

“Losing the set in that way hurts,” he admitted. “In the second, I was at 0/40 after several stupid points and I was in trouble. I have to learn from these moments because I didn’t make the most of the chances I had.”

Despite starting the week off battling illness, Alcaraz managed to get through his days in Italy with the help of antibiotics, rest and a nose strip to help him breathe (which he wore again in his match against Zverev) and a lot of self-belief that he could turn a situation around and reach the semi-finals, as he did in 2023.

“It was a difficult week for me, but it’s a privilege to be here among the eight best players in the world,” Alcaraz said. “I’m going to learn from what has happened. I played good tennis, but today I faced one of the best. I’m disappointed with the defeat,” he continued.

Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic held their nerve Friday in a high-stakes, round-robin finale to secure their place in the Nitto ATP Finals semi-finals. The Salvadoran-Croatian duo knocked out home favourites Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 6-3, 3-6, 10-3 to finish second in the Bob Bryan group.

Arevalo and Pavic have already guaranteed their finish as Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF and now they look to claim their first Nitto ATP Finals crown.

The top seeds overcame a topsy-turvy encounter with the Italians that featured hot and cold runs from each team. After winning the opening set, Arevalo and Pavic dropped five consecutive games. But in key moments, they relied on aggressive returning and applied pressure with their close positioning at net. Arevalo and Pavic won 84 per cent (32/38) of their first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

[ATP AWARDS]

Following their win, Arevalo and Pavic improved to 4-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Bolelli and Vavassori. All four meetings came this season, including a championship clash at Roland Garros.

Alexander Zverev with his victory against Carlos Alcaraz Friday at the Nitto ATP Finals did more than clinch his spot atop the John Newcombe Group. The German also guaranteed he will finish the year at No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Zverev is No. 2 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and now has a 905-point lead over No. 3 Alcaraz. While the Spaniard still can qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals semi-finals, he can no longer catch Zverev for World No. 2.

This is the highest year-end finish of Zverev's career and the seventh time he will complete a season in the Top 10. The 27-year-old's previous-best finish came in 2021 when he was year-end No. 3.

Zverev is two matches from earning the third Nitto ATP Finals trophy of his career. In 2024 he has already triumphed in Rome and Paris, both ATP Masters 1000 events.

Alcaraz is locked into a year-end World No. 3 finish. Two years ago he became the youngest ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF in history. Last year he finished No. 2.

Can anyone halt Alexander Zverev’s late-season surge at the Nitto ATP Finals?

The German on Friday extended his winning streak to eight matches by sinking Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(5), 6-4 in Turin. Zverev, who was facing Alcaraz for the first time since his heartbreaking five-set defeat in the Roland Garros championship match, produced an impressive one-hour, 57-minute performance to outclass his rival and guarantee he will end the year as No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

With his victory, Zverev ensured a first-place finish in John Newcombe Group and set a semi-final clash against fifth seed Taylor Fritz, while it left Alcaraz on the brink of elimination from the prestigious season finale. There remains a scenario where the Spaniard could progress via percentage of games won, but only if Andrey Rublev defeats Casper Ruud in straight sets on Friday evening.

Although Zverev did ultimately secure a straight-sets win, the margin of his victory against Alcaraz could have been greater. The German’s razor-sharp returning on the fast-paced Inalpi Arena court helped him carve out seven break points in the first set, but he was unable to convert any of them.

Those disappointments did not stop Zverev from staying focused in the tie-break, during which his accurate, powerful ballstriking off both wings proved key. Alcaraz produced back-to-back moments of magic from 2/5 down — a running forehand pass and an audacious lob winner — but was let down by a loose backhand on the following point and Zverev went on to clinch the set and seal his semi-final spot.

Alexander Zverev is a virtual lock to reach the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals after winning the first set of Friday's singles match with Carlos Alcaraz. Provided the match doesn't end in a retirement, the German is guaranteed to advance to the knockout stages of the season finale, which he has won twice before.

Zverev took the first set 7-6(5) against Alcaraz as he looks to emerge from group play with a perfect 3-0 record.

Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic were celebrated for their Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF finish on Friday afternoon at the Nitto ATP Finals.

The Salvadoran-Croatian team will try to qualify for the season finale later in the evening when they face home favourites Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori. But first they lifted the year-end No. 1 trophy.

Arevalo said: “I want to start with thanking Mate for playing with me and trusting in this team. This is something that we achieved together with a lot of work, a lot of hours on the court and we’re extremely happy. Of course it’s a dream, it’s a goal when you start the season to end your season here in Turin, in the Nitto ATP Finals. Lifting the year-end No. 1, I think it’s a plus.

“I also want to thank my team and Mate’s team. I think even though tennis looks like it’s an individual sport, but I think nobody gets this far alone. In think we all need a team and I want to thank my team… They really care about me. Also my wife, she’s been super supportive traveling with me around the world with two kids, which is not easy.”

[ATP AWARDS]

After two years together, Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden finished with a flourish on Friday at the Nitto ATP Finals.

The Indian-Australian pair downed Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 7-5, 6-7(6), 10-7 to end their 2024 campaign at the prestigious season finale in Turin with a victory. Already out of the running for a semi-final spot after two prior defeats this week, Bopanna and Ebden came out firing before responding well to letting slip two match points in the second-set tie-break. They eventually clinched a one-hour, 42-minute Match Tie-break victory in the final match of their partnership.

Bopanna and Ebden propelled themselves to victory with the help of 14 aces, according to Infosys ATP Stats. With the win, they levelled their Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Krawietz and Puetz at 2-2.

Finishing with a flourish ?❤️@rohanbopanna & @mattebden end their two-year partnership in brilliant fashion, defeating Krawietz/Puetz 7-5 6-7(6) 10-7!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/5TMZ4OudDo

Bopanna and Ebden have enjoyed huge success since first teaming in January 2023. They lifted four tour-level titles together, including at this year’s Australian Open, while they also each spent time as No. 1 in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings during their partnership.

Jannik Sinner is the name on everyone’s lips in Italy. The 23-year-old has enjoyed a historic season, rising to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings and winning two major titles.

Sinner is competing on home soil this week at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, where everyone is keen to watch the Italian in action. From the practice courts to a packed Inalpi Arena, fans turned out in force on Tuesday night for Sinner’s match against Taylor Fritz.

The home favourite was greeted with raucous cheers when he walked onto court, but it was one lucky seven-year-old who had the chance to give the Italian final words of encouragement. Francesca, part of the mascot kid programme presented by Nitto, accompanied Sinner on court and shared a sweet message to the star.

"I asked him if he was scared about playing the match, and then I asked him to win,” Francesca said. “He replied, 'I try'."

Sinner went on to defeat Fritz in straight sets, fulfilling the wishes of Francesca and the Italian crowd. The 23-year-old has previously spoken about the mascot programme, praising the initiative.

Nick Kyrgios will make his long-awaited return to ATP Tour action next month at the Brisbane International presented by Evie, to be held from 29 December to 5 January 2025.

The 29-year-old has been hampered by wrist and foot injuries that have kept him sidelined for almost two years, having last contested a tour-level match at the BOSS OPEN in Stuttgart in June 2023.

Welcome BACK, @NickKyrgios ? ? ?#BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/RpUEmzfsIG

Kyrgios, the former No. 13 in the PIF ATP Rankings, has fond memories of playing at the ATP 250 in Brisbane. In 2018, on his main-draw debut at the event, Kyrgios swept through the field to clinch his fourth tour-level title.

Now, after a gruelling injury hiatus, the seven-time ATP Tour titlist and Wimbledon finalist will return to Brisbane with his sights set on reigniting the form that propelled him to stardom earlier in his career.

Whether things go to plan or don't go to plan, Daniil Medvedev rarely minces his words when it comes to honest self-assessment.

The 28-year-old was in a typically philosophical mood on Thursday night in Turin, where his season ended with a straight-sets defeat to Jannik Sinner at the Nitto ATP Finals. Despite a group-stage elimination at the prestigious season finale to confirm his first season without a tour-level trophy since 2017, Medvedev identified plenty of positives to balance out his 2024 disappointments.

“Probably I will finish No. 4 in the world, unless Taylor [Fritz] pulls a big upset, which is amazing,” said Medvedev in his post-match press conference. “[I don’t] need to say it. It's amazing. In the sport that is that demanding, with so many players, I want to be No. 1 in the world, but I didn't play well enough this year, by far, to be No. 1 in the world. Jannik is playing much better. He proved it many times.

“But I'm No. 4 in the big tennis world. I'm super proud about that because I struggled throughout the whole year. Every practice, every match was a struggle for me. A lot of matches. Before I would feel I had the edge on the opponent and win it easy. Now I needed to win three sets, tie-breaks, breaks in the end of the set, et cetera.

“I would [rate my season] somewhere around six and a half out of 10, which means a lot of work to do to be better, but still a lot of good memories also. I'm looking forward for next season already."

Nitto ATP Finals competitors will return to Turin’s Inalpi Arena on Friday for another taste of the action at the prestigious season finale.

Here is the schedule for Friday at the Nitto ATP Finals.

ORDER OF PLAY - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2024
CENTRE COURT start 11:30 am
[8] Kevin Krawietz (GER) / Tim Puetz (GER) vs [6] Rohan Bopanna (IND) / Matthew Ebden (AUS)

Not Before 2:00 pm
[2] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs [3] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)

It was business as usual for Jannik Sinner on Thursday as he maintained the perfect start to his Nitto ATP Finals campaign, eliminating Daniil Medvedev in the process. 

The top seed produced a steely performance to ease past Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 in their final round-robin match in Turin. After seeing off the 2020 champion, Sinner ensured he finished top of the Ilie Nastase Group, advancing to the last four with a perfect 3-0 record for a second consecutive year.

Joining Sinner in the semi-finals is Taylor Fritz, who earlier rallied to secure a vital win over Alex de Minaur. Fritz will be competing in the semi-finals at the season finale for a second time, having made it to the knockout stage on his debut in 2022. 

“I'm trying to find new ways to improve as a player,” said Sinner, who improved to 7-1 in round-robin matches at the Nitto ATP Finals. “I'm trying to win as many matches here as I can. Me and Daniil, we know each other very well. So, everytime we step on court, we try to change something tactically. I felt like I was ready to see what he was going to do today.

“I know what I have achieved during this year, so I try to step on court with a good mindset. I have beautiful people around me who support me daily, which for me is really important. I try to enjoy my time on the court. The atmosphere here is amazing, so I’m just trying to play some good tennis this week. Let’s see what’s coming in the next round.”

Alexander Zverev is already a two-time champion at the Nitto ATP Finals, and the numbers show the German is serving better than ever, making him a major player in the chase for the Brad Drewett Trophy.

The No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings has not faced a break point through two round-robin matches at this year’s season finale, defeating Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud in straight sets. The 27-year-old, currently on a seven-match winning streak, has not faced a break point since 5-4 in the second set of his semi-final victory against Holger Rune at the Rolex Paris Masters.

His service performance against two of the very best players in the world, Rublev and Ruud, was staggering. Zverev not only went a combined 21 service games without coming under break pressure — he barely lost points.

In 10 service games against Rublev, he lost 10 points. In 11 service games against Ruud, he dropped 11 points. A reporter flagged the stat to him on Wednesday evening.

“If I get broken the next match, it's your fault,” Zverev said, cracking a smile. “If I make one double fault on a break point, I'm going to only think about you. It's the only reason.”

Now you see him. Now you don’t.

Carlos Alcaraz’s scintillating court coverage was on full display Wednesday against Andrey Rublev at the Nitto ATP Finals. Now, thanks to a combination of Augmented Reality technology, 3D modelling and live data, fans can experience the Spaniard’s magical movement like never before.

Check out the latest AR Immersive Hot Shot from the prestigious season finale in Turin, where great moments from the world’s best players are being reimagined to help attract a younger audience and bring ATP tennis into people’s lives in a new and innovative way.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

On Thursday morning, Carlos Alcaraz turned up at the practice court in Turin’s Inalpi Arena without the nose strip he wore to help with his breathing in his second match at the Nitto ATP Finals, in which he defeated Andrey Rublev.

This was the first sign that the Spaniard, who has been feeling under the weather for a few days, is finally on the mend. On Friday he will have to get past Alexander Zverev and hope for a favourable result in the other match (Casper Ruud vs. Rublev) if he is to reach the tournament’s semi-finals.

At the end of his practice session, which he shared with Andres Martin, one of the tournament’s sparring partners, Alcaraz stayed behind with Juan Carlos Ferrero to work on his serve, aiming at cones placed on the court to improve his accuracy and speed.

The goal was clear: to continue ramping up the power of a delivery that proved decisive when it came to sinking Rublev. In his second clash in Turin, Alcaraz unleashed 10 aces, won 84% of points played on his first serve and faced no break points. These numbers paved the way for his first win in the John Newcombe Group.

Against Zverev, one of the biggest servers on the ATP Tour, the Spaniard knows he will face an uphill battle on Turin’s indoor fast court if he does not bring his best serve with him. Although the record between the two players is tied (5-5 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head), the Spaniard has had his way with the No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings the last two times they crossed paths this season, in the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Roland Garros final.

The serve has been a key part of Alcaraz’s arsenal in 2024; the Murcia native has landed 245 aces, put the ball in play with 65 per cent of his first serves, points of which he won 73 per cent, and saved 62 per cent of the break points he has faced.

Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic have earned Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF honours as a team for the first time.

Pavic had achieved the feat on three previous occasions with three different partners. Arevalo is part of the year-end No. 1 duo for the first time.

"I’m extremely happy for this achievement. If you see it in a way, you can see that it’s one year, because it’s the year-end No. 1. But for me it’s more than that," Arevalo said. "It’s a team effort of many years. I know that me and Mate have only been playing for one season, but individually, our teams have been working for many years and I think this is just the product of our effort individually and now in the 2024 season together as a team."

Photo: Peter Staples/ATP Tour
The Salvadoran-Croatian team formed a new partnership in 2024 and have made the most of it, surging deep into tournaments on every surface to earn their place atop the doubles circuit.

Arevalo and Pavic won their first Grand Slam championship together at Roland Garros, one of their four triumphs as a pair in 2024. They also were victorious at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, Hong Kong and Geneva.

The round-robin stage of the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals concludes Friday, with all still to play for in the John Newcombe Group.

Alexander Zverev tops the table with a 2-0 record, but even his place in the semi-finals is not guaranteed ahead of a Day 6 showdown with Carlos Alcaraz. Following that day-session clash, evening opponents Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev will know exactly where they stand in their quest for the knockout rounds.

In doubles action, Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz bid to complete a perfect campaign in the Bob Bryan Group when they take on sixth seeds Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden. Top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic face Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in a de facto quarter-final, with the winner set to advance to the semis alongside group winners Krawietz/Puetz. Arevalo and Pavic clinched Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF honours after Thursday's results in Turin.

[ATP AWARDS]

[2] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. [3] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
While Zverev tops the group with a pair of straight-set wins against Rublev and Ruud, he must win at least one set against Alcaraz to confirm his place in the semi-finals — though he could still progress even with a straight-sets defeat.

Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson cut through some nailbiting tie-break tension to clinch a Nitto ATP Finals semi-final spot on Thursday evening.

The Australian pair dug deep for a 7-6(14), 6-3 triumph against second seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in Turin. Needing to win just one set to ensure their spot in the last four, Purcell and Thompson held firm in a thrilling first-set tie-break, during which they fended off four set points before converting their sixth. They then rode that momentum to an early 3-0 lead in the second set en route to completing a 97-minute victory.

?? AUSSIE! AUSSIE! AUSSIE! ??@MaxPurcell98 & @jordanthommmo2 punch their ticket into the last four in Turin with a 7-6(14) 6-3 win over Granollers/Zeballos.#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/30jms9b55m

As a result of their win, the fifth-seeded Purcell and Thompson finished second with a 2-1 record in Mike Bryan group and joined fellow event debutants Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten in advancing to the semi-finals. They are the first all-Australian team to reach the last four at the Nitto ATP Finals since legendary pair Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in 1999.

“We’ve both had incredible years, and when you’re trying to toss up doubles and singles, it’s so tough on the body," said Thompson. "We’ve just done our best. We’ve probably played over 50 matches together, so that tells you we’re doing something right.”

Practicing Your Drop Shots in Pickleball The drop shot is a key technique in pickleball that requires finesse and precision. It's especially useful when you're near the net, trying to place the ball softly into the non-volley zone (the kitchen), forcing your opponent to move forward and often creating an opportunity for a point-winning shot. Here's...

Here’s a little alternate trivia from this year’s Nitto ATP Finals.

Benchwarmers Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas are both former champions, triumphing on their respective debuts. They’re also the highest-ranked players in the world with single-handed backhands.

So the Bulgarian and Greek haven’t struggled for conversation this week as they’ve passed time together at the Inalpi Arena, waiting for a tap on the shoulder to step in for a qualified player in the event of illness or injury.

“Every day, we've been hitting together, and chatting a lot,” said Dimitrov, who won the finale on debut in 2017 but has not been among the Elite Eight since. “So for our friendship, and to experience something like this overall, outside of competing, I think it's great.”

Tsitsipas, who is the only player to win both the Next Gen ATP Finals and Nitto ATP Finals (2019), has also enjoyed his time hanging with Dimitrov, whom he leads 6-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.