Zverev defeats Rublev at the ATP Finals to sign off season with a win
The German put in an excellent final performance of the season to ensure that he finished third in the group with two wins out of three
Alexander Zverev – ATP Finals – Chryslene Caillaud / Panoramic
Alexander Zverev has finished his 2023 season with a victory, beating Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-4 in the final group match of this year’s ATP Finals.
The German improved his head-to-head record against Rublev to 6-3, while also condemning the Russian to three losses from three matches at the ATP Finals.
Rublev therefore finished bottom of the group, while Zverev was third. The German was unlucky not to reach the last four after two wins from three matches in Turin, including a hugely impressive opening victory over Alcaraz at the start of the week.
But it was his failure to win a set against Medvedev that proved decisive, as the world No 3 snuck through to the semi-finals on set difference.
“I didn’t make it to the semi-finals because of one shot. That’s upsetting of course. But at the end of the day, that’s sport, that’s tennis.”
Zverev on narrowly missing out on a place in the semi-finals
Dead rubber still manages to entertain Turin crowd
Both Rublev and Zverev had already been eliminated from the competition due to Carlos Alcaraz’s straight-sets win over Daniil Medvedev in the afternoon session, meaning tonight’s match was purely for pride, prize money and ranking points.
That did little to dampen commendable performances from both players, however, who put on a decent show for the Friday-night crowd in Turin.
The pair exchanged early breaks in the first set before Zverev made the decisive move in the ninth game, breaking Rublev for a second time to move 5-4 up. He then confidently served out the set to leave the familiar sight this week of a frustrated Rublev.
The second set went on serve until the seventh game, when a couple of stunning points from the German – as well as a desperately lucky net call – wore down the last of Rublev’s resistance, with Zverev breaking for a third time in the match.
The world No 7 then served out the match three games later, sealing the win on his third match point after Rublev had saved two.
Zverev “motivated” for 2024, as Rublev runs out of steam
“I have to look back at it [his week in Turin] in a positive way, even though I’m out at the group stages,” Zverev said after the win.
“I mean, I beat Alcaraz and I beat Rublev. That’s great. I didn’t make it to the semi-finals because of one shot. That’s upsetting of course. But at the end of the day, that’s sport, that’s tennis.
“But, all in all… after the injury that I had, being back here with the top eight players in the world in the first season back, winning two matches, that gives me great hope and I’m as motivated as ever for next year.”
This win caps an impressive week for the German, whose promising displays should alleviate some of the disappointment at just being pipped to second place by Medvedev.
For Rublev, this was not the week that he had planned. The ATP Finals was a chastening experience for the Russian this year, but one throughout which he gave his absolute all and can take many lessons from.
Ultimately, he looked exhausted by the end of tonight’s match. After a long and intense season, it may well have been a case of simply running out of steam this week.
No doubt Rublev will come again in January, perhaps with some much-needed variety added to his game to take it to the next level – the level that is required to regularly compete with the very best players in the world.
But not before some well-deserved rest and relaxation after a taxing, but ultimately successful, season.
