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,

Carlos Alcaraz had defeated Alexander Zverev three times this year, including in the French Open finals, before today's match in the Group Stage of the 2024 ATP Finals. However, the trend ended on the indoor hard courts in Turin, Italy.

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.

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.

The ATP Tour Finals in Turin, Italy have their semifinalists. After 12 matches, all but two of them straight-sets wins, Jannik Sinner will face Casper Ruud in one semifinal, with Alexander Zverev playing Taylor Fritz in the other.

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.

Zverev faced world no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz in the final round-robin match and earned a 7-6, 6-4 triumph, beating the Spaniard for the second straight year in Turin. It was their 11th duel, and the German ousted the young Spaniard for the sixth time, bouncing back after two consecutive losses this year.

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.

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.

Alcaraz's recent struggles on fast hard courts are a welcome reminder that he has plenty of runway to improve.