Carlos Alcaraz will end the season as world No. 1 after beating Lorenzo Musetti 6-4 6-1 at the ATP Finals on Thursday, but the Spaniard says his work is only half done as he turns his focus to winning the title in Turin. Alcaraz admitted that the added importance of his match against Musetti made for a tense opening set, aware of the extra incentive to cement his status in the world rankings.
Carlos Alcaraz will finish the year as world No. 1 after defeating Lorenzo Musetti 6-4 6-1 at the ATP Finals on Thursday, but the Spaniard insists his work is only part done as he targets the title in Turin.
Alcaraz, who has amassed 70 wins this season, eased into the semi-finals with a straight-sets victory that secured first place in the Jimmy Connors Group at the season-ending tournament.
The win also ensures the 22-year-old will avoid facing Jannik Sinner until the final, should both progress, though Alcaraz admitted the added significance of defeating Musetti contributed to a tense first set.
Earlier on Thursday, Australia’s Alex de Minaur eliminated American sixth seed Taylor Fritz from the tournament with a 7-6 (3) 6-3 win, which confirmed Alcaraz’s place in the semi-finals.
Reflecting on his performance, the top seed told Sky Sports: “I got the news about the semi-final [qualification] before stepping on the court, which for me was great to be honest, but the match was really important for me – playing to end the year as No. 1. It wasn’t easy at the beginning with the nerves.
“I knew that I was going to play almost the first set with those nerves, which I had to be focused on. I tried to handle that pressure, those nerves, the best I could, so I’m just really happy with the match, with the level that I played today, and obviously to be able to end the year as the No. 1.”
Alcaraz later added: “It means the world to me, to be honest. The year-end number one is always a goal.
“At the beginning of the year I saw number one really far away, with Jannik winning almost every tournament he plays.”Then in the last three, four tournaments of the year, [I was] fighting toe-to-toe with Jannik for this spot, and then finally I got it. For me, it means everything.”
Sinner needed to defend his title and for Alcaraz to lose a group match and exit in the semi-finals to claim the top ranking.
On whether achieving the year-end No. 1 ranking lifted a weight off his shoulders, Alcaraz added: “Probably. Obviously, it was a really important goal for me to end the year as the No. 1, but this tournament is also really important to me.
“I’m excited about qualifying for the semi-final, giving myself a chance to play another semi-final here and hopefully get into the final, so we will see. I would say part of the job is done, but the rest of the job is still going, so I’m excited to keep going.”