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If Alcaraz loses to second-ranked Alexander Zverev, who plays Andrey Rublev in his opening match later on Monday, he might be eliminated.
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 meetings over the course of their careers, it was Ruud’s first victory over Alcaraz.
“I previously had two enjoyable experiences in Turin… 2022 runner-up Ruud, who had lost seven of his eight games prior to this tournament, stated, “I have had a rough start to the season, but hopefully I have saved some wins for this week.”
Ruud is already in a strong position to advance to the semi-finals for the third consecutive year-end event appearance when he takes on Andrey Rublev in his second match in the John Newcombe group on Wednesday.
If Alcaraz loses to second-ranked Alexander Zverev, who plays Rublev in his opening match later on Monday, he might be eliminated.
After losing his serve in the fourth game and having three break points come and go in the next, third seed Alcaraz fell behind 4-1 very quickly.
Alcaraz threw a loose forehand wide and finished the first set in just thirty-six minutes with a hold to love, but Ruud stretched a double-break ahead.
However, the four-time Grand Slam champion made progress early in the second set, bringing up his signature forehand winner to earn his sixth break point of the match.
After seizing the opportunity with a deft volley, he used a clinical hold to take a 5-2 lead.
Ruud, however, went to great lengths to make Alcaraz serve for the set before retaliating to level the score.
Alcaraz’s racquet started making mistakes all of a sudden again, and the sixth seed had the opportunity to serve for the match after a fantastic Ruud return and a wild forehand.
Ruud finished a run of five consecutive games with a spectacular ace on his third match point.