Carlos Alcaraz has shifted his indoor tennis to another level at this week's ATP Finals. The Spaniard arrived in Turin with many question marks over his game under the roof following an early Paris Masters defeat.
However, the El Palmar native did his homework ahead of the year-ending event, having won all four matches and reaching his first ATP Finals title match. The reward? Another thrilling clash against his greatest rival, Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz defeated three rivals in the round-robin stage andsecured the year-end no. 1 honor. He faced Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-final and provided a rock-solid 6-2, 6-4 victory in an hour and 22 minutes for his 11th ATP final of the season.
After falling to Felix in their opening three duels, Carlos has now won their most recent five encounters in dominant style, having taken all 11 sets. The Spaniard fired up his shots en route to an impressive performance on Saturday night.
World no. 1 claimed 16 points more than his opponent. He served at 75% and lost 13 points in nine service games. Alcaraz faced one break point and saved it to mount the pressure on the other side.
Felix could not follow those numbers. The Canadian dropped two many points behind the first serve and played against eight break points. He suffered three breaks to end his run in the last four.
The Spaniard hit more service winners, and his opponent responded at the net. However, Carlos forged a massive advantage from the baseline and secured his victory in the quickest exchanges up to four strokes.
The favorite fired up his forehand and hit 25 winners and ten unforced errors. Auger-Aliassime embraced a 15-20 ratio, missing too much from his forehand and reducing his efficiency.
The Spaniard made a strong start and generated three break points in the second game of the duel. He missed his chance on the first, and Felix denied the next two with fine hitting before bringing the game home for 1-1.
Alcaraz fired winners in the third game and made a push on the return at 2-1. He attacked and landed a crafty volley winner after a fine drop shot to grab a break and move in front.
World no. 1 netted a volley in the fifth game and faced the only break point. Auger-Aliassime netted a routine forehand and missed a chance to pull the break back.
They held at love in the next two games, with the 22-year-old moving 5-2 up with an ace in game seven. Carlos started the eighth game with two forehand winners and generated three set points.
He drew the rival's mistake on the first, providing a break at love and completing an impressive set in 37 minutes. Both players served well in the opening nine games of the second set, developing a battle we expected from them before the match.
Alcaraz moved 4-3 up with a service winner before Auger-Aliassime closed the next one with a crafty behind-the-back volley winner for 4-4 and more drama. The Spaniard landed a crosscourt forehand winner in game nine for another fine hold and 5-4.
The Spaniard stepped in on the return in game ten and seized the second match point after the rival's loose forehand to seal the deal and wrap up an impressive match ahead of the Jannik Sinner final showdown on Sunday.
