Alexander Zverev opened his campaign at the ATP Finals in Turin on Monday night by eliminating Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-4 in their first round-robin match.
In the afternoon match, Casper Ruud cruised through the first set before coming back from 5-2 behind in the second to beat standout opponent Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 7-5.
The German Zverev last faced the Russian Rublev at the same stage of the final in 2023 and won by the same score.
Zverev, double winner of this event in 2018 and 2021, goes second in the John Newcombe group, behind the Norwegian Ruud.
Zverev, 27, recent winner of the Masters 1000 in Paris, rose to world number 2 this season. After a 2022 season marked by injuries, he briefly left the top 25 in 2023.
“I was never sure I could get back to this level,” Zverev said on the pitch in Turin. “This is the second year in a row for me here. I still want to improve. I still want to improve on a few things. We’ll see how next year goes.”
Rublev held his own in his first three service games. He won a 13th straight point on serve to open the crucial seventh game, but Zverev then won the next four to move to 15.
Zverev didn’t allow a break point against his serve the entire match and immediately converted every chance he got.
“I thought it was a very solid match from me,” Zverev said.
“Andrey is an incredible player, but everyone who plays here is an incredible player.
“Against anyone here, you have to play your best to have a chance, you have to be tough, strong mentally. I feel like I did that today, I feel like I I used my chances pretty well and I’m obviously happy to win.”
– Alcaraz sick beaten –
Earlier at Alcaraz, the world number three got off to a difficult start to his first ATP final, committing 34 unforced errors in an unusually erratic display.
“I’m tired. I’m mentally tired,” said Alcaraz, who won the French Open and Wimbledon titles earlier this year.
“Obviously, a lot of matches, a very tight schedule, a very demanding year with not too many days off, not too many periods to rest.
“Some players are doing better than others.”
Alcaraz said he battled illness and adapted to the indoor surface.
“A few days before coming here I fell ill at home,” said the Spaniard.
“I don’t like to sound like I’m making excuses, but today I didn’t feel good on the pitch.
“It doesn’t matter how many times I beat Casper. I have no experience on indoor courts. I have to be better during this part of the year when we play on indoor courts.”
It was Ruud’s first victory over 21-year-old Alcaraz in their five career meetings.
“I knew he had a little cold. I saw him sniffling behind his back and with a tissue for his nose, so that’s a sign that maybe physically he won’t necessarily be 100 percent. Good Of course, it’s sad and it’s not good for him, but at the same time it’s part of the game.”
The Norwegian had suffered seven defeats in his eight matches before this tournament.
“This part of the season hasn’t been good for me but I hope I saved a few wins for this week and I’ve started well,” said Ruud, runner-up in the 2022 final.
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