"I was a bit sad and frustrated that I couldn’t return any serves": Carlos Alcaraz left puzzled and frustrated in mental block at ATP Finals

Carlos Alcaraz showed once again why he’s the World No.1 in men’s tennis, overcoming a tricky start to secure a hard-fought win against Taylor Fritz at the 2025 ATP Finals.

In a packed out Inalpi Arena, the top seeded Spaniard produced an incredible comeback to take down Fritz 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-3 to remain unbeaten at 2-0 in the Jimmy Connors Group. Last year's runner-up Fritz looked likely to claim the win at the ATP Finals and feather his own nest of ambition.

But it was Alcaraz who came back with a rip roaring comeback bolstered by an emphatic final set to seal the win and he is likely to move through on Tuesday evening if De Minaur manages to beat Musetti tonight. He admitted he didn't feel comfortable though in sealing the win as he came through a tough tie against Fritz.

He is now also only 50 points away from the Year End No.1 spot which he craves as not even Jannik Sinner will be able to stop him claiming it if he goes perfect through the group.

“It was a really difficult match mentally,” Alcaraz admitted after the contest speaking on Tennis Channel. “After the first two return games, I got chances—I broke in the second return game—but after that, I didn’t know what happened. I just didn’t feel comfortable on the return. He was serving really well, and honestly, I was a bit sad and frustrated that I couldn’t return any serves.”

Despite the early struggles, Alcaraz made crucial adjustments. “I found a way by giving myself more meters, more time to return his serve. I had to run even more for the first two or three shots in every point. But I’m really happy I had the energy to do it, to recover the points, and to keep playing such great tennis. Problem-solving out there was amazing.”

The Spaniard also highlighted the unique intensity of the ATP Finals. “Before the match, you have to do your best. You’re playing against the best tennis in the world. They usually don’t let you stay in the match or come back if you lose focus even a little bit. That means it doesn’t matter if it’s two hours or three hours—you have to be really focused on every point. It’s really difficult to play against the top, so you’ve got to be focused from the very beginning.”

Alcaraz’s adjustments, both tactical and mental, proved decisive in the third set. By improving his return positioning and working harder on the early shots of each point, he was able to regain control and push through to victory.

“After a beautiful start, my man,” the interviewer said. “Thank you very much,” Alcaraz replied with a smile, capping off an interview that reflected both his tactical awareness and his relentless competitive spirit.

With this win, Alcaraz not only advances in the ATP Finals but also reinforces his reputation as one of the most resilient and intelligent players on the tour, capable of solving problems on the fly even against the very best.