Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur has suffered a challenging start to his ATP Finals campaign, falling to world number one Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets during their opening group match in Turin.
Dream Start Turns Sour
De Minaur had entered the season-ending championships with confidence, vowing to make an impact against the world's elite. The Australian number one appeared poised to deliver on his promise during a fiercely contested first set that saw him fight back from significant adversity.
After trailing 1-4 and facing 0-40 in the opening set, de Minaur demonstrated characteristic resilience to force a tiebreak. The Sydneysider even held a commanding 5-3 lead in the breaker with two serves to secure the set, but critical missed first serves allowed Alcaraz to snatch four consecutive points and claim the stanza 7-6 (7-5).
Alcaraz Shifts Into Top Gear
The momentum swing proved decisive as the Spanish phenom elevated his game in the second set. Alcaraz broke de Minaur's serve immediately and never looked back, despite the Australian's persistent efforts to stay competitive.
Alcaraz ultimately sealed the victory 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 in one hour and forty minutes, showcasing the power and precision that has made him one of tennis's most formidable competitors. The match concluded with a blistering flat backhand winner on match point that flashed into the corner, leaving de Minaur no opportunity for reply.
Road to Redemption
The loss places de Minaur in a familiar position of needing to win his remaining round-robin matches to advance to the semi-finals. This marks the second consecutive year the world number seven has begun the ATP Finals with an opening defeat, having lost all three of his matches during his tournament debut in 2022.
Despite the setback, de Minaur can draw confidence from periods of high-quality tennis that challenged the six-time Grand Slam champion. The Australian made 11 fewer unforced errors than Alcaraz's 28 and frequently frustrated the young star with his defensive prowess and court coverage.
De Minaur now faces crucial matches against Lorenzo Musetti and Taylor Fritz in the Jimmy Connors Group. The Italian world number nine was a late replacement for injured Novak Djokovic, while American world number four Fritz represents another significant challenge in the round-robin format.
Alcaraz praised his opponent after the match, noting: "Alex on this surface is really good - he makes the most of the speed of the court as he's super fast. So I'm really happy to get through this really difficult challenge and happy the way I played."
The Spanish sensation continues his quest to add an ATP Finals title to his already extraordinary resume at just 22 years old, while also aiming to secure the year-end number one ranking ahead of reigning champion Jannik Sinner.
