Carlos Alcaraz’s attempt to win his first ATP Finals title was off to a slow start on Monday as Norway’s Casper Ruud easily defeated the Spanish player in straight sets. Ruud won 6-1, 7-5 in Turin after sweeping the first set and rallying from a 5-2 deficit in the second. In an unusually poor performance, world number three Alcaraz, who earlier this year won the French Open and Wimbledon championships, committed 34 unforced errors. In their five confrontations throughout the course of their careers, it was Ruud’s first victory over Alcaraz.
“I previously had two wonderful experiences in Turin… I’ve had a rough start to the season, but perhaps I’ve preserved some victories for this week,” 2022 runner-up Ruud said. Ruud is already in a strong position to advance to the semi-finals for the third consecutive year-end tournament participation when he takes on Andrey Rublev in his second match in the John Newcombe group on Wednesday. If Alcaraz loses against second-ranked Alexander Zverev, who plays Rublev in his opening round later on Monday, he might be eliminated.
After losing his service in the fourth game and having three break points come and go in the following, third seed Alcaraz fell behind 4-1 rather fast. Alcaraz threw a wayward forehand wide and finished the first set in just thirty-six minutes with a hold to love, but Ruud stretched a double-break ahead.
For the third time in as many appearances at the year-end event, Ruud is in a strong position to advance to the semi-finals going into his second match against Andrey Rublev in the John Newcombe group on Wednesday. Rublev’s opener is later on Monday, and if Alcaraz loses to second-ranked Alexander Zverev, he might be eliminated.
Alcaraz, the third seed, lost 4-1 very fast after losing his service in the fourth game and being denied three break points in the following one. As Ruud extended a double-break up, Alcaraz missed a poor forehand and won the first set in just thirty-six minutes with a hold to love.