Carlos Alcaraz says "it means everything" to clinch the year-end number one spot after maintaining his 100% record at the ATP Finals on Thursday.

Heading into the tournament, Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were battling for the top ranking, and the Spaniard knew a win over Lorenzo Musetti would be enough to clinch it.

And by beating Musetti 6-4 6-1, he secured the number one spot for the second time, previously doing so in 2022.

Alcaraz (22 years 188 days) is the youngest player to claim 70+ match wins in a season at ATP level since Novak Djokovic (22y 164d) in 2009.

And since the ATP rankings were first published in 1973, Alcaraz has become just the second player to secure multiple year-end number one rankings before turning 23, after Lleyton Hewitt (2001-02).

1 - Since the ATP rankings were first published in 1973, Carlos Alcaraz has become just the second player to secure multiple year-end ATP #1 rankings before turning 23, after Lleyton Hewitt (2001-02). Historic.#NittoATPFinals | @atptour @ATPMediaInfo pic.twitter.com/N9uURmXhyo

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) November 13, 2025

"It means the world to me, to be honest. The year-end number one is always a goal," said Alcaraz.

"At the beginning of the year, I saw number one really far away, with Jannik winning almost every tournament he plays.

"Then in the last three, four tournaments of the year, [I was] fighting toe-to-toe with Jannik for this spot, and then finally I got it. For me, it means everything."

Alcaraz has a tour-leading eight titles in 2025, including two grand slams, which is his career best total in a single calendar year.

He will face either Alexander Zverev or Felix Auger-Aliassime for a place in the ATP Finals showpiece as he looks to win the competition for the first time.