TURIN, Italy :Two-time ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev beat four-time major winner Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(5) 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the season-ending championships on Friday, leaving the Spaniard on the brink of the end. elimination.

German Zverev entered the competition as group leader with two wins from two matches against eighth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev and Norwegian sixth-seeded Casper Ruud, but needed to win at least one set against Alcaraz to secure his place in the semi-finals.

Third seed Alcaraz needed a win of his own but could still make it to the semi-finals based on percentage of games won – but that would only be possible if Rublev beat Ruud in straight sets later on Friday.

With the win, second seed Zverev secured first place in the John Newcombe Group. He will next face US Open finalist Taylor Fritz.

The victory was even sweeter for Zverev, who lost the French Open final to Alcaraz in June.

“Alcaraz beat me a lot in important matches this year, so I’m happy to win this match,” said Zverev.

“Obviously I think it’s a very good rivalry and a great friendship, so it’s always nice to play against him… Just sharing the court with him. He’s a great guy and I’m looking forward to the next games.” with him too.

“It’s been three great matches. I’m definitely happy to be 3-0 in the group, but now I think the semi-finals will be very difficult. (Taylor) has beaten me in the slams the last couple of times, so I’m looking forward to that match.”

Zverev and Alcaraz failed to find consistency in a tight opening set as momentum swung back and forth before the German came out on top.

Zverev dominated much of the second set and took a 3-1 lead before surviving a late challenge from Alcaraz.

Zverev won 73 percent of his points on serve and posted 29 winners in the one-hour, 57-minute contest to take a 6-5 advantage over Alcaraz. It was the world number two’s 69th win of the season, the most in a season since three-time major winner Andy Murray (78) in 2016.

Since reaching his first ATP Finals semi-final in 2018, only 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic (five) has reached the tournament’s semi-finals more times than the 27-year-old German. insert four times.

Alcaraz, who won his first victory at this year’s ATP Finals by beating Rublev in straight sets on Wednesday, wore a pink nose band again because he had breathing difficulties in recent days.