No calculations are needed, there will be no emergencies for Carlos Alcaraz, who has already qualified for the semifinals of the Masters Cup thanks to favor Alex de Minaur day. The Australian, still sore from the painful defeat suffered on Tuesday evening against the local Lorenzo Musetti, recovers and resurfaces. Count on him too, still having options. Not so Taylor Fritz: 7-6(3) and 6-3, in 1h 34m. The doors to the semi-finals are therefore wide open for Carlos Alcaraz, who tonight (8.30pm, Movistar+) will face Musetti with the pass in hand, but not without incentives. It is obviously not the same thing to do so as first or second in the group, with or without the throne secured.
Having achieved the first objective without having played, a magnificent reward awaits the Murcian this Thursday evening, taking into account that a victory would guarantee him the number one at the end of the year. It would be the second time. Now there is 2022, the historic first, and since then a supersonic growth that leads towards the powerful Alcaraz of today, hand in hand with Jannik Sinner and already installed in the sphere of the exceptional. Great words, but there is still work to be done: beating Musetti would bring him the prize and an addition not to be underestimated, given that on Saturday there would be no possibility of crossing Sinner (leader of the other block).
Against all odds, the Spaniard receives the involuntary help of De Minaur, to whom the tournament perhaps owes the victory. He had it with Musetti in hand, but he slipped and now he’s making up for it. “Losing these types of games affects me a lot mentally,” he said. Depending on what may happen at night, he is still alive. No, however, the disappointing Fritz, who sealed his participation with a victory in retrospect insufficient. Crooked since the first set tie-break, the American ends the exercise with a disappointing performance that confirms what we have seen so far: he has the conditions, but he doesn’t take advantage of them. The future demands much more.
Now De Minaur is confident of returning the favour, as a victory for Alcaraz in tonight’s finale would take them into the semi-finals. If so, he would run into Sinner. It is worth remembering that the Italian confirmed himself as the favorite last night with a performance against Alexander Zverev, defeated in two sets and overwhelmed on all fronts: on serve, on rest, in rallies. The German will have to face it tomorrow, against the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. In the opposite direction, Alcaraz will face the last appointment of the group without urgency, without détente. The incentive is too good to pass up. Now, in Turin and with a local tennis player in front of us.
THE FINAL SCENARIOS OF THE GROUP
TO) Regardless of the score, if Musetti beats Alcaraz, the Italian wins the group and the Spaniard ranks second.
B) If Alcaraz beats Musetti in straight sets, the Spaniard wins the group and De Miñaur ranks second.
C) If Alcaraz beats Musetti in three sets, the Spaniard wins the group and De Miñaur ranks second.
