Carlos Alcaraz has qualified for the ATP Finals’ semi-finals, reaching that stage with three straight wins.
And, in achieving this feat, the Spaniard has secured his spot as the year-end world number one.
It is just the second time that he has ever accomplished this feat, which seems strange given his overwhelming quality. However, he will feel even better to have gotten one over on his great rival, Jannik Sinner.
Speaking on-court after his triumph, Carlos Alcaraz naturally cut an upbeat figure.
He chatted about how much this accolade means to him, as well as his plans for the rest of the tournament.
Carlos Alcaraz: the best player of 2025
Live on Sky Sports, Alcaraz was commended for delivering under such immense pressure.
Asked if he felt relieved to have secured the year-end world number one spot, the 22-year-old admitted: “Yeah. Well, I think I got the semifinals spot, you know, before we stepped out onto the court. For me, it was great to be honest, but the match was really important for me, playing for the world number one, so it wasn’t easy at the beginning with the nerves.
“I knew that I was going to play the whole of the first set with those nerves, which I had to be focused on that, I tried to handle that pressure, the nerves, the best I could. So I’m just really, really happy with the match, with the level that I play today, and obviously to be able to end the year as the number one.”
The reporter was then curious to know whether this accomplishment had taken a weight off his shoulders, to which he smiled and replied: “Probably.
“It was a really important goal for me to end the year as the number one, but obviously, the tournament, I mean, this tournament is really, really important for me.
“I’m excited about qualifying for the semi-finals, giving myself a chance to play another semi-final here and hopefully get into the final. So we will see.
Is Jannik Sinner currently the best player in the world?
“But, you know, I would say part of the job is done, but you know, the rest of the job is still going. So I’m excited to keep going.”
Alex de Minaur has spoken about whether he feels he is getting closer to Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, and ironically, the world number one has gifted the Aussie his spot in the ATP Finals semi-finals with that win over Musetti.
How Carlos Alcaraz deservedly finished 2025 as the year-end world number one
Alcaraz began his year in solid fashion, although a quarter-final loss at the Australian Open marked a disappointment for someone who had thrived in 2024.
However, the run he would then go on following that defeat was mesmerisingl although he underwhelmed in Indian Wells and Miami before reaching the final in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, Roland Garros, Queen’s and Wimbledon, winning all but two.
He got straight back to action on the hard courts in Cincinnati, where he won again, before dethroning Sinner in New York to retain the US Open title.
His most recent title of the season came in Tokyo, and the ATP Finals will represent his final chance to secure the ultimate silverware.
Given that he is now confirmed to finish the year as the world number one, he is expected to end this tournament with a flourish.
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