Carlos Alcaraz has sparked concern over his fitness ahead of the ATP Finals after arriving in Turin with taping on his right knee.

The Spaniard, the second seed at the season-ending event, was seen with strapping on his right knee and a patellar support band during his first practice session at the Inalpi Arena. The session lasted about an hour, and Alcaraz appeared to complete it without any major discomfort.

There has been no official confirmation of any injury, and it is not yet clear whether the strapping is simply a precaution. Further practice sessions in the coming days will give a clearer picture of how the knee is holding up before play begins on Sunday, 15 November.

Discomfort carried over from Paris

Spanish outlet Punto de Break reported that the problem appears to be discomfort carried over from the Paris Masters final against Ben Shelton, during which Alcaraz was seen shaking out his right knee. Some fans on social media also noted that he appeared to be limping as he arrived in Turin.

The report added that the knee is also a worry for Spain's Davis Cup Finals tie in Bologna the following week, underlining why Alcaraz and his team will be cautious about how much strain he puts through the joint in Turin.

Alcaraz arrives in Italy in the best form of his season. He won the Vienna title without dropping a set and then won the Paris Masters, beating Shelton in the final to avenge his defeat to the American at the US Open. He has also won in Tokyo since returning from injury at the US Open, and he is aiming for a third straight tournament victory in Turin.

Chasing a first title in Turin

The ATP Finals is one of the few leading titles still missing from Alcaraz's collection. He is playing the event for the fourth time and is still looking for his first title, after losing the final last year to Jannik Sinner in straight sets.

Sinner, who won the title in each of the last two years, will not defend it this time. The Italian withdrew after ending his season early because of a knee injury of his own, which has left the draw more open than it might otherwise have been.

Alcaraz heads the Ivan Lendl Group alongside Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli and Frances Tiafoe. He will open his campaign against Tiafoe on Monday, 16 November, while Medvedev faces Cobolli later the same day.

Zverev leads the other group

World No. 1 Alexander Zverev heads the John McEnroe Group, where he will face Shelton, Arthur Fils and Rafael Jodar. Zverev is chasing a third title at the event, having won it in 2018 and 2021, and he arrives as the Roland-Garros and US Open champion.

The top two players in each group will reach the semi-finals on Saturday, 21 November, with the final scheduled for Sunday, 22 November at the Inalpi Arena.

Medvedev, the 2020 champion, has won 18 of his 22 matches since the US Open, with titles in Hangzhou and Almaty. Cobolli, a Roland-Garros finalist this year, will carry the home hopes, but he has not played since retiring in Vienna. Tiafoe, the Halle champion in June, completes the group.

Four players will make their debut at the event: Cobolli, Fils, Tiafoe and Jodar. Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz are the alternates.

For Alcaraz, the immediate question is simpler than the draw or the form guide: whether the taping on his right knee is a precaution or the first sign of a problem that could shape his week in Turin.