Alcaraz makes winning start to ATP Finals / Photo: © AFP
-
South African election results renew debate over identity-based voting
-
Post-election pressures complicate US and Israeli decisions on Iran
-
South African voters report smoother local election but declining IEC trust
-
UN members approve talks on treaty protocol against environmental crime
-
Dolly Parton museum and Nashville hotel open after singer’s death
-
Family-run West Sussex beach café prepares for first winter season
-
George and Amal Clooney attend New York political-comedy reading
-
CT scans reveal health and burial clues from Egypt’s Braided Lady mummy
-
British buyers pay substantial premiums for period-home appearance
-
Oxford faces complaints over lecturer’s classroom attire
-
Thomas Markle released to house arrest after child-abuse-image charge
-
Kyren Wilson and John Higgins reach International Championship snooker final
-
Dawn of War 4 developers chose Adeptus Mechanicus for tactical variety
-
New Zealand and Tonga meet for place in Rugby League World Cup final
-
Italy face unbeaten South Africa in Turin Nations Championship match
-
Reports of unsafe AI-toy responses renew calls for child-safety rules
-
ChatGPT interactive interface feature tested across six custom tools
-
Juneau food network combines difficult supply routes with deep sharing traditions
-
Freshways milk-price cut deepens pressure on UK dairy farms
-
India climbs green-transition ranking after first emissions decline in 25 years
-
Labour and National remain virtually tied as New Zealand vote count advances
-
Trump names Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff after midterm losses
-
The Good Daughter adapts Karin Slaughter thriller with Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy
-
Restored Albanian tower houses anchor new rural tourism trail
-
Heavy-lift drone evacuates wounded Ukrainian soldier from frontline kill zone
-
Sonia Gandhi reflects on family tragedy and reluctant political career
-
Morrison says West Brom recovered after pressure from successive derby losses
-
Pope Leo begins three-country South American tour in Uruguay
-
Britain considers 2027 state visit for Ukraine’s Zelensky
-
Khawaja says entire Australia camp knew of 2018 ball-tampering plan
-
Udinese Falls to Last Place in Serie A After Loss to Venezia
-
Arizona Voters Ban Speed Camera Expansion Amid Vandalism Crisis
Alcaraz makes winning start to ATP Finals
World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz made a solid start to the ATP Finals in Turin on Sunday with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 win over Alex de Minaur.
It is the first time that the Spaniard had won his opening match at the finals. He lost to Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud in the last two years.
It was not all plain sailing. Leading 4-1 and pressing for 5-1 in the first set, Alcaraz suffered a sudden dip, struggling with his first serves and allowing De Minaur to come back to level the score.
Trailing 3-1 and then 5-3 in the tiebreak, Alcaraz redicovered his touch to level and then break De Minaur to win the first set.
In spite of dropping his service early, the second set was more straightforward as Alcaraz raced away to to claim his fifth victory in as many meetings with De Minaur.
"It was a really difficult match," said Alcaraz.
"On this surface, Alex makes the most of the speed of the ball, he's super fast and really difficult on return.
"I'm just really happy to get through this really difficult challenge, and happy with how I'm playing."
Alcaraz and De Minaur are in the Jimmy Connors group which also features Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti, a late replacement for the injured Novak Djokovic.
Later on Sunday, Alexander Zverev faces Ben Shelton in the first match of the Bjorn Bjorg group, which also includes world No.1 Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
B.Shevchenko--BTB