Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning champion of both the French Open and Wimbledon, heads into the ATP Finals with some unique challenges and a few question marks regarding his form. Despite a glittering 2024 season, which saw him add two more Grand Slam titles to his trophy cabinet, Alcaraz’s performance on indoor hard courts remains a subject of debate. This perceived lack of confidence on the surface means he’s entering the prestigious year-end tournament in Turin trailing behind both Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev in the eyes of many bookmakers.
Alcaraz’s preparation for the ATP Finals, however, demonstrates his determination to close that gap. Realizing that success on indoor courts demands an adaptive strategy, he has taken the proactive step of training at the Ferrero Tennis Academy on a surface closely resembling that of Turin’s Pala Alpitour. Such meticulous planning and dedication reflect the mindset of a player who isn’t willing to settle. For Alcaraz, the ATP Finals represent not just a chance to win another title but an opportunity to silence doubters and prove his adaptability.
At just 21 years old, Alcaraz has become a household name in tennis, regularly showcasing a mix of raw power, exceptional agility, and a mental fortitude well beyond his years. Yet, even for him, the indoor hard court season poses specific challenges. These surfaces tend to favor flat, powerful hitting and a faster pace, which is not entirely aligned with his more baseline-oriented and varied style of play. This year’s journey has been particularly enlightening; after a defeat to Alexander Zverev in Paris-Bercy, he slipped in the rankings, a blow that seems to have triggered an even more intense focus on honing his game.
For former Spanish tennis star and commentator Alex Corretja, however, there is every reason to remain optimistic about Alcaraz’s prospects in Turin. In a recent interview with Eurosport, Corretja expressed his confidence in the four-time Grand Slam champion, emphasizing that the young Spaniard has shown he can rise to the occasion in high-stakes tournaments. “Alcaraz will arrive at a great moment. He has won some tournaments on fast courts, especially beating Sinner in the final, which gives him extra confidence,” Corretja noted. “In Paris-Bercy, the court was faster than he likes. In the Masters, everything is very open and everyone arrives very saturated mentally.”
Corretja’s insight reflects the unique pressures and opportunities of the ATP Finals. Unlike other tournaments, the year-end Masters gathers the eight best-ranked players of the season, making every match a battle of high intensity. Fatigue, both physical and mental, plays a significant role in determining the outcomes of these matches. With Alcaraz having learned valuable lessons from past experiences at this tournament, Corretja believes this year could mark a turning point. “Carlos has learned from the past, he will arrive a little fresher than last season. I have confidence in him; he is a player for the big tournaments, and the Masters is one of them,” he added.
Alcaraz’s desire to triumph in Turin is also fueled by the stature of his competition. Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Alex De Minaur, and Andrey Rublev round out this year’s field, with each competitor having carved their path through a stellar 2024 season. The withdrawal of Novak Djokovic, a dominant force in recent ATP Finals, further opens up the field, allowing a new wave of stars to step into the spotlight. Among this elite group, Sinner, Zverev, and Alcaraz have been the standout players of 2024, raising expectations for thrilling matchups in the coming days.
The narrative of a three-way rivalry between Sinner, Zverev, and Alcaraz has added an extra layer of intrigue to this year’s competition. Sinner, who has been in outstanding form, offers a formidable challenge, boasting a skillset that thrives on fast surfaces. Meanwhile, Zverev’s Paris-Bercy triumph underscored his dangerous potential. For Alcaraz, the task is clear: he must rise above these formidable opponents to claim his first-ever ATP Finals title. Doing so would not only cement his status as one of the sport’s brightest stars but also signal a new era of dominance on all surfaces.
As the tournament unfolds, much of the focus will be on how Alcaraz handles the unique demands of indoor hard court play. His work at the Ferrero Tennis Academy hints at a willingness to adapt and push his game’s boundaries. Success in Turin would further elevate an already impressive year, showcasing that his Grand Slam victories are but a prelude to what he can accomplish across all formats. Fans and experts alike eagerly anticipate whether Alcaraz can channel his immense talent and emerge as the year-end champion—a triumph that would undeniably be one of the defining moments of his young career.
With all eyes on Turin, Alcaraz’s quest for mastery at the ATP Finals could provide yet another chapter in the thrilling saga of his meteoric rise. The stakes are high, the competition is fierce, and for Alcaraz, this is the perfect stage to prove that he belongs at the very top of the sport, regardless of the surface underfoot.