Carlos Alcaraz is through to the semifinals at the ATP Finals and will end the year as world number one after winning his final group stage match against Lorenzo Musetti.
The Spaniard was tested in the first set by home hope Musetti, who had the Turin crowd on his side throughout the contest.
Alcaraz ultimately drew first blood, however, and took the second set comfortably to win 6-4, 6-1 and advance to the final four at the year-end tournament.
With three straight victories, he has topped the Jimmy Connors group, with Alex de Minaur finishing second and also booking his place in the semifinals.
As well as closing in on a maiden ATP Finals crown, Alcaraz has just achieved something only one other player has managed in tennis history.
Carlos Alcaraz makes history with latest victory at the ATP Finals
Alcaraz had to beat Musetti to guarantee world number one status heading into the 2026 ATP season.
In doing so, he has become only the second player since the ATP rankings were first published in 1973 to record multiple year-end world number one finishes before turning 23.
The only other player in men’s tennis to have achieved the feat was Lleyton Hewitt, who held the top spot at the end of 2001 and 2002.
Alcaraz, still 22 years old, secured his first year-end world number one finish in 2022, following his maiden Grand Slam triumph at the US Open that season.
Carlos Alcaraz avoids Jannik Sinner in the semifinals in Turin
With his victory over Musetti, Alcaraz will also avoid Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, with the now world number two having already won the Bjorn Borg group.
De Minaur will now face Sinner, and Alcaraz will clash with either Felix Auger-Aliassime or Alexander Zverev.
The results now mean that the final match of the year could potentially be a 16th career clash between Alcaraz and Sinner, in what will mark another chapter in an already iconic rivalry.
Both stars have yet to lose a match at this year’s ATP Finals, and it looks as if they will fight for one last title in 2025.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
