Carlos Alcaraz was the big name missing when the last two semifinal spots were filled at the ATP Finals on Friday. Alcaraz's 7-6 (5), 6-4 loss to Alexander Zverev meant the French Open and Wimbledon champion — who has been sick this week — was eliminated from the elite,

Alexander Zverev surged into the semi-finals of the ATP Finals after eliminating French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz with a 7-6(5) 6-4 defeat, while Casper Ruud also advanced with a 6-4 5-7 6-2 win over Andrey Rublev on Friday.

Taylor Fritz will play for the ATP Finals title after beating Alexander Zverev in three sets in the semi-finals.

Zverev is coming off a defeat to No. 12-ranked Fritz, 6-7, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7, in the quarterfinals at the US Open. In his last match on September 26, 2024, Fritz came up short 4-6, 6-3, 3-6 against Arthur Fils in the Round of 32 of the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships.

Taylor Fritz edged past Alexander Zverev to become the first American to reach the title match at the ATP Finals for nearly 20 years. American players were regular champions in the first 30 years of the tournament’s history, but Pete Sampras in 1999 was the last to lift the trophy.

Carlos Alcaraz had his drop shot working and overcame physical issues to claim a 6-3, 7-6 victory over Andrey Rublev at the ATP Finals.

During the past two years, Alcaraz has the advantage over Zverev, 4-2 in six head-to-head matchups. Their last one, at the Roland Garros on June 9, 2024, went to Alcaraz 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.

Carlos Alcaraz was the big name missing when the last two semifinal spots at the ATP Finals were filled by Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud.

Alexander Zverev secured a spot in the last four of the ATP Finals on Friday with 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 victory over Carlos Alcaraz whose campaign at the season-ending event ended at the group stage. Zverev's qualification from the John Newcombe Group means that three of the four semi-final spots have been filled,