Zverev imperious in sucker-punch victory over Ruud at ATP Finals
The German defeated Casper Ruud 7-6 (3), 6-3 to complete a straight-sets win over the Norwegian at the ATP Finals in Turin
Alexander Zverev, ATP Finals, 2024 © FITP photos
Two-time champion Alexander Zverev further underlined his strong title credentials at the ATP Finals, beating Casper Ruud 7-6 (3), 6-3 in a high-quality display in Turin to move top of the John Newcombe group with one match remaining in the round robin stage.
It was a case of blink-and-you’re-beaten for Ruud, who performed to a wonderfully high level throughout the match but was undone at the death by a single break of serve late in the second set.
In a tournament that has been dominated by the serve in heavy-weight, first-punch encounters, this contest stayed very much true to that theme, with both players navigating their way to a first-set tiebreak without facing a single break point between them.
They were both serving superbly in a high-quality opening stanza. Two statistics that told the tale well heading into the tiebreak were Zverev’s 91% win rate behind his first serve and Ruud winning 100% of his second-serve points – a trend for the Norwegian that was ended with the opening point of the breaker as Zverev took advantage of a tentative second serve to take the early initiative.
It was a quick start that set the narrative for the tiebreak, as the German rapidly moved into 3-0 and 5-1 leads before sealing it 7-3 on his third set point.
It took until the eighth game of the second set for the match to see its first break points, with Zverev suddenly navigating to 15-40 on his opponent’s serve following an overplayed drive volley from Ruud at 0-15.
The imperious German only needed one of them, sealing victory in straight sets after a potentially drawn-out affair had looked on the cards.
“It was a good match,” Zverev said in a post-match interview.
“I thought both of us played quite good tennis. I’m happy with the win. I thought I played a bit better than the first match, even though the first match was also quite good.
“I’m looking forward to facing Carlos now on Friday, and then hopefully a few more matches on the weekend.”
zverev ending season in remarkable form
In the end it was an anti-climactic and sudden end to an excellent contest, with Zverev’s serve remaining impenetrable throughout.
The world No 2 – and recent Paris Masters champion – did not face a single break point and has only been taken to deuce on his serve once across his opening two matches in Turin this year.
Ruud continued his own fine form with a performance he can take great pride in, knowing that he still has a good chance to progress should he beat Andrey Rublev in the final round of group matches on Friday.
“I’m just going to think I need to win my match anyhow. I think it’s going to be a cool match with Sascha and Carlos. They typically play really good matches,” Ruud told reporters in a post-match press conference.
“I’m just going to think about my match… Could be the last match of the year. If I win, could be one more after. I’m just going to give it my all.
“I felt like I served really well today, which I kind of need against Sascha because he serves so well himself. He’s taken his serve to another level for me. He doesn’t do the double-faults anymore. He doesn’t get shaky with his serve anymore. His first serve is 225, around there, all the time.”
After two performances of supreme, unerring quality from Zverev, the question at this year’s ATP Finals feels very much centred around who can beat the German when he is in this kind of form on indoor hard courts that are as quick as these in Turin.
He will take on an under-the-weather Carlos Alcaraz in two days’ time, with home favourite and world No 1 Jannik Sinner another possible stumbling block for the German.
At the moment, though, it has been all steam ahead as Zverev powers home his season on a remarkable high run of form.
Ominous signs for the rest of the field.
