Carlos Alcaraz seals top ranking with a thumping victory over Lorenzo Musetti

Even before the lights turned on in the Inalpi Arena, Carlos Alcaraz was already assured of his spot in the semifinal of the 2025 ATP Finals. Alex De Minaur had extinguished the hopes of Taylor Fritz earlier in the morning on Thursday, to ensure Alcaraz could turn his focus to the quest for the year end crown. The Spaniard had already tasted glory when he claimed the top ranking as a teenager in 2022. Playing with the assurance of that halo, Alcaraz decimated Lorenzo Musetti 6-4 6-1 to clinch the year end number one ranking for a second time.

Alcaraz entered the ATP Finals needing to stay a step ahead of Jannik Sinner in the points race. The scenario was clear: win three matches at the Finals, and the top spot was his, regardless of Sinner’s results. On Thursday, under the gaze of a passionate Inalpi Arena crowd, Alcaraz delivered, dropping just five games against Musetti and quelling any hope for Sinner to catch him by the tournament’s close.​

The match itself was a testament to Alcaraz’s blend of aggression and poise. He dispatched Musetti in just under 90 minutes, wrapping up victory on his third match point. “This means everything,” Alcaraz said post-match, reflecting on the pressure and his desire to finish strong. It is the second time he ends the year as No. 1, having first achieved the feat at age 19 in 2022, which was a men’s record at the time.

But the day also belonged to Alex de Minaur, who overcame Taylor Fritz 7-6(3), 6-3 to keep his semi-final hopes alive. De Minaur’s tenacity, particularly in a taut first set tiebreak, set the stage for his breakthrough. The result, combined with Alcaraz’s triumph, meant de Minaur also advanced to the semifinals, marking a memorable Thursday for the Australian.​

Alcaraz finishes atop the Jimmy Connors group with a perfect 3-0 record, underlining his credentials as the man to beat in Turin. De Minaur, aided by his straight-sets win over Fritz and Alcaraz’s undefeated run, secures a spot in the knockout stages.

Meanwhile, heavyweights such as Sinner and Alexander Zverev, in the other group, continue their own fight for glory. Alcaraz turned the chase for No. 1 into a personal goal this week, and secured it even before the knockout stages.

Carlos Alcaraz - Photo by Tullio Puglia/Getty Images