Alcaraz grouped with Djokovic and Sinner with Zverev in the ATP Finals draw

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz was drawn in a group with Novak Djokovic at the ATP Finals, while defending champion Jannik Sinner was grouped with Alexander Zverev on Thursday.

The Jimmy Connors group consists of Alcaraz, Djokovic, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur.

The Bjorn Borg group consists of Sinner, Zverev, Ben Shelton and Felix Auger-Aliassime or Lorenzo Musetti, who compete for the last spot.

Auger-Aliassime occupies the eighth and final qualifying spot, but Musetti can skip the Canadian if he wins a tournament in Athens this week.

The status of Djokovic, who also plays in Athens, is questionable. Djokovic, a record seven-time finals champion, sat out last year’s event and has said he will decide whether to play after the tournament in Athens.

The finals start on Sunday with round-robin play. The top two finishers from each group will advance to the semi-finals.

The final is scheduled for November 16.

Alcaraz is playing in the final for the third time; his best result was the semi-final in 2023.

Alcaraz and Sinner are still fighting for the year-end No. 1 ranking, which will be determined by their performance in the finals.

Zverev won the finals in 2018 and 2021, while Fritz lost last year’s final to Sinner.

De Minaur makes his second consecutive appearance and Shelton makes his debut.