Zverev Alcaraz Nitto ATP Finals 2024 Friday | Nitto ATP Finals

Can anyone stop Alexander Zverev’s late-season surge at the Nitto ATP Finals?

The German extended his winning streak to eight matches on Friday by downing Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(5), 6-4 in Turin. Zverev, facing Alcaraz for the first time since his heartbreaking five-set defeat in the Roland Garros championship match, produced an impressive performance in one hour and 57 minutes to outclass his rival and guarantee he will finish the year as the No. 2nd in the PIF ATP ranking.

“He beat me too many times this year in important matches, so I’m glad I got this one,” Zverev reflected after his triumph. “Obviously I feel like we have a pretty good rivalry with a good friendship so it’s always nice to play against him… Just to share the court with him. He’s a great guy and I’m looking forward to the next ones as well battles with him.”

With his victory, Zverev secured first place in the John Newcombe Group and set up a semi-final clash against fifth seed Taylor Fritz, while it left Alcaraz on the brink of elimination from the prestigious season finale. There is still a scenario where the Spaniard can advance via match win percentage, but only if Andrey Rublev defeats Casper Ruud in straight sets on Friday night.

“It’s been three great matches,” Zverev said. “I’m sure to be 3-0 in the group, but I think the semi-final will now be very difficult. (Taylor) has beaten me the last couple of times at the Slam, so I’m looking forward to that fight.”

Although Zverev ultimately secured a straight-sets victory, the margin of his victory against Alcaraz could have been greater. The German’s razor-sharp returns on the fast Inalpi Arena court helped him carve out seven break points in the first set, but he was unable to convert any of them.

Those disappointments didn’t stop Zverev from staying focused in the tie-break, where his accurate, powerful forehands from both wings proved key. Alcaraz produced back-to-back moments of magic from 2/5 down – a running forehand pass and an audacious lob winner – but was let down by a loose backhand on the following point and Zverev went on to clinch the set and seal his semi – last place.

Still needing to win the match to secure top spot in the group, the second seed made the perfect start to the second set by rallying from 40/0 down at the break in the opening game. Alcaraz tried to spark a comeback and earned his first break points of the match (and the first break points Zverev has faced this week) at 2-4, 15/40, but the German fended them off before going on to close out his victory. .

Two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Zverev sent down nine aces and won 73 percent (40/55) of points on his first serve against Alcaraz, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He has not dropped serve in any of his last four matches dating back to his Rolex Paris Masters final win against Ugo Humbert.

Zverev now has a Tour-leading 69 wins in 2024, one more than world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and the most in a season since Andy Murray won 78 in 2016 (the year the Brit won the Nitto ATP Finals and finished as ATP Year -End No. 1 presented by PIF). After defeating Alcaraz in the Nitto ATP Finals group stage for the second consecutive year, Zverev now leads the Spaniard 6-5 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.