Overview
- The top seed won 7-6(5), 6-2 after recovering from 3-5 in the first-set tiebreak, extending his head‑to‑head over De Minaur to 5-0.
- It is Alcaraz’s first opening-match victory at the season-ending event after losses in his first outings the past two years.
- Alcaraz can clinch the year-end ranking by sweeping his group or by reaching the final under specific scenarios, while Jannik Sinner must retain the title to stay in contention.
- Novak Djokovic withdrew with a shoulder injury after winning in Athens, Lorenzo Musetti replaced him in the Jimmy Connors group, and Alcaraz said he preferred facing Musetti to Djokovic.
- Alexander Bublik is the first alternate and Casper Ruud has accepted the second alternate role, according to NTB reporting via Tennis365.