Alcaraz battles back to beat Fritz in thriller

World number one Carlos Alcaraz felt "relieved" after he battled back from a set down to edge out Taylor Fritz in a thrilling contest and close on a place in the knockout stages at the ATP Finals in Turin.

With his victory, Alcaraz also moved within one win of securing the end-of-year world number one ranking in his battle with Jannik Sinner for that honour.

American sixth seed Fritz, the 2024 runner-up, matched Alcaraz for much of their two hours and 48 minutes together on court.

But the Spaniard, as he so often does, found another gear to turn the match around and complete a 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 6-3 win.

"It was tight. I felt I was running more than him, struggling more than him," Alcaraz said.

"I was really relieved after the win because of everything I went through physically. I'm really happy that I found a way to come back and find his weaknesses."

On being one win away from clinching the year-end world number one ranking, Alcaraz added: "I try not to think about it. It is going to be a really big match for me [against Lorenzo Musetti in his final group game] and I will try not to let nerves give me a bad time."

Both players were seeking consecutive victories, after Alcaraz beat Australian Alex de Minaur and Fritz also won in straight sets against Italy's Musetti.

Victory for De Minaur against Musetti in Tuesday's other match in the Jimmy Connors Group would confirm Alcaraz's place in the last four before his final round-robin match against the Italian.

A high-quality opening four games lasting 30 minutes set the tone for the match, with both players forced to battle through their opening service games before Fritz responded immediately to Alcaraz's breakthrough.

Fritz, who won the most recent indoor meeting at the Laver Cup in September, missed two break points in the eighth game, but maintained pressure and seized control of the tie-break to deservedly claim a 70-minute first set.

Alcaraz earned a crucial hold of serve after an eighth deuce in a captivating 14-minute fifth game, pointing to his ear as he lapped up the crowd's appreciation after shutting down the first of Fritz's two break points on his way to taking a 3-2 lead.

Fritz overcame his first test of the second set to seal an important hold for 4-4, but he could not escape four games later when, seemingly from nowhere, a rare double fault contributed to a 0-40 deficit - and Alcaraz took his second set opportunity.

Fritz continued to go toe-to-toe with his opponent and ended the match with 75% first serves in, but Alcaraz took full advantage when his level eventually dipped.

Breaking for a 4-2 lead, Alcaraz sought to finish in style and landed a spectacular overhead backhand drop shot to reach a third match point on Fritz's serve.

Fritz rightfully received the adoration of the crowd for hanging in the contest, only for a free-flowing Alcaraz to serve out the match to love.