Overview
- Top seed Carlos Alcaraz beat Alex de Minaur 7-6 (5), 6-2 to win his first ATP Finals opener and extend his head-to-head over the Australian to 5-0.
- Alcaraz can clinch the year-end No. 1 by reaching the final with at least one group win or by sweeping his round-robin matches, while Jannik Sinner must retain his title to stay in contention.
- Novak Djokovic pulled out with a shoulder injury after winning in Athens, with Lorenzo Musetti promoted into the Jimmy Connors group for his Finals debut.
- Alexander Bublik is the first alternate and Casper Ruud accepted the second alternate spot, according to his manager.
- Two-time champion Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in his opener, reinforcing early group dynamics as Alcaraz prepares to face Musetti and Taylor Fritz next.