ATP Finals: Alcaraz beats Rublev to stay in contention for semi-final berth
The Spaniard saved two setpoints in the second set to claim the victory
Carlos Alcaraz – Nitto ATP Finals 2024
Image Credit: Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse/Shutterst/SIPA
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz scored a straight sets win over Russian Andrey Rublev at the ATP Finals in Turin to stay in contention for one of the two semi-final berths from the john Newcombe group.
The world No 3, who lost his opening match on Monday to Casper Ruud and later admitted that he had been feeling under the weather since a few days, drew first blood on Wednesday as he broke the Rublev serve twice from 3-3 to claim the first set 6-3.
The second set went with serve into a tiebreaker, with neither player able to create a break point opportunity. Alcaraz, who played with a nose strip, saved two set points in the tiebreak before converting his second matchpoint to complete the 6-3, 7-6 (10-8) win.
This was Alcaraz’s 12th top 10 win of the season (second most behind Jannik Sinner’s 14) and his 53rd overall match win of the year. It also improves his career head-to-head against the Russian to 2-1.
For Rublev, it marked the sixth consecutive straight sets loss at the season-ending event. It was also his sixth loss in as many matches to Spanish players in 2024.
Ruud can qualify for the semi-finals with a win over zverev
in the second singles match of the day, Ruud will take on world No 2 Alexander Zverev, with both players having won their first matches. Ruud will qualify for the semi-finals if he wins today while a Zverev win will mean bot semi-final positions will be in play on Friday, when the final matches of the group take place.
John Newcombe group
- Carlos Alcaraz – 1 win 1 loss
- Casper Ruud – 1 win 0 losses
- Alexander Zverev – 1 win 0 losses
- Andrey Rublev – 0 wins 2 losses
