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Ruud speaks after his win:
It’s only one match but definitely one of the best wins of the season in terms of who I am playing, his level, his ranking. We have all seen Carlos play and I have not been boosting from confidence in the past few months so I want to build on this in Turin.
I think he may be dealing with a cold, I have seen him sniffling around. I tried to make him play rallies but it is not easy when you know someone isn’t 100%. Luckily I got a break early, kept it and played some well-executed tennis.
Ruud will now play the winner of the match between Zverev and Rublev, who face off tonight. They have this to look forward to.
That unexpected win really blows the John Newcombe Group wide open, which also contains Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev. A lot for Alcaraz and his team to review. Too many missed drop shots, poor shot selection and struggles from the baseline.
Ruud beats Alcaraz 6-1, 7-5 in straight sets
*Alcaraz 1-6, 5-6 Ruud (*denotes server) Ruud is now serving for the match and an ideal start with a powerful serve to get him on the board. He has now won 17 of the last 21 points and he just needs three more right now. But Alcaraz’s backhand down the line makes it 15-15; he is not going down without a fight. Ruud does look a bit nervous but he is standing exceptionally firm in the rally. He stands at match point … but nets a backhand after a short rally.
It is 40-40 and you can just feel the tension. The Norwegian hits a stellar first serve for the advantage but Alcaraz’s final ball in the next point is too far for Ruud to reach.
Back to deuce and Ruud gets the advantage again. Can he string back-to-back points in his third match point? He can … with a firing ace! Wow! That is his first win against Alcaraz ever and easily his best win of the year!
*Alcaraz 1-6, 5-6 Ruud (*denotes server) The Spaniard hits a pacy first serve and the crowd cheers him on but he then attempts another drop shot, which he nets (his sixth failed drop shot) unsurprisingly! A few more unforced errors and Ruud faces another break point … and what a return from a rejuvenated Ruud! He was two points away from losing this set and look at him now.
Alcaraz 1-6, 5-5 Ruud* (*denotes server) The game isn’t more than a few minutes. Ruud wins it without dropping a point with some strong serves and Alcaraz is looking a shell shocked.
*Alcaraz 1-6, 5-4 Ruud (*denotes server) Alcaraz double faults to make it 30-15 and then Ruud hits a looping forehand up and over Alcaraz. The Spaniard thinks it is out but it is on the line. Ruud sees out the game and he is back in the set and breaks. He deserves it too after being a lot more aggressive and showing more willingness to step inside on the court.
Alcaraz 1-6, 5-3 Ruud* (*denotes server) Ruud now serves to stay in the second set. He starts but trying to get closer to the net but the match is really starting to be played on Alcaraz’s terms. But he finds a way to go up 40-30 with a good defensive lob and some luck after Alcaraz nets. The Spaniard hits a deep return and immediately has Ruud on the defensive. Alcaraz, while on top, tries the drop shot again and shocking no one, he nets it. Ruud recognises that Alcaraz was retreating very deep for the second serve and opted to go for the quick, fast volley to see out the game.
*Alcaraz 1-6, 5-2 Ruud (*denotes server) Alcaraz is recognising that his forehand is what is consistently working for him today. He hits three in a row and he finally is going for the right shots after some poor shot selection.
Alcaraz 1-6, 4-2 Ruud* (*denotes server) Alcaraz is rising to the challenge here. His footwork is a lot better and the crispness of his shots is there. A long rally at 15-15 goes his way after he hits a crosscourt forehand. But after playing such a good point, he rushes a dropshot. That is now 10 backhand unforced errors compared to Ruud’s one.
He goes back to the forehand on the next point though and wins that before taking the break point with a low shot that Ruud was never going to get to.
*Alcaraz 1-6, 3-2 Ruud (*denotes server) Ruud works hard to stay in the first rally but Alcaraz’s forehand pushes him to the brink around every which way on the court. The Spaniard hits an ace to make it 40-0 and Ruud can’t hit the crucial final return. Only the one point dropped for Alcaraz’s service game in this set.
Alcaraz 1-6, 2-2 Ruud* (*denotes server) A few more Ruud aces take him up to 40-15 and it looks like another one will see out the game in quick fashion but somehow Alcaraz returns the corner serve and it hits the line just under Ruud’s nose. It only delays the inevitable though and Ruud sees it out.
*Alcaraz 1-6, 2-1 Ruud (*denotes server) Better from Alcaraz. His serves are not as strong as the first game of this set but he goes back to the basics, with a fantastic crosscourt volley. He makes it 2-1 but needs to focus on Ruud’s service games if he wants to make up for that first set.
Alcaraz 1-6, 1-1 Ruud* (*denotes server) Alcaraz misses a fairly routine forehand, unusual for him to go down 0-30 and then hits a backhand out to make it 0-40. He sees it out with shot from close to the net, looking very confident as he does so.
*Alcaraz 1-6, 1-0 Ruud (*denotes server) Alcaraz is ready to go immediately and goes up 40-0 on his serve, targetting the far corner. Four first serves and game over.
Ruud wins the first set 6-1 against Alcaraz
Alcaraz is tilted. He can’t get better of Ruud’s serves or returns at all. The Norwegian wins the set with an ace after going up 40-0. Alcaraz finishes the set with 15 unforced errors compared to Ruud’s 7. The Norwegian’s first and second serve percentages have also been much higher. He has been aggressive and he has had the control and consistency, which is especially impressive given Alcaraz is a better player on this surface.
*Alcaraz 1-5 Ruud (*denotes server) The Spaniard nets another drop shot to go down early on but ties it up 15-15 right away. But Ruud is hitting very fast returns and somehow the Norwegian is rushing the world No 3. This is very unexpected. He hits two more outs and frustratingly whacks away the spare ball. Ruud to now serve for the set.
Alcaraz 1-4 Ruud* (*denotes server) Alcaraz tries to take the second serve return early but Ruud is pushing, serving faster than he usually does. He goes up 30-15 but he then nets an easy shot, his fourth unforced error of the match, and looks at his team in frustration. He then uncharacteristically misses a forehand but does well to keep the ball in play on the next point. Alcaraz misses a routine drop shot and after a few of deuces with the two swapping deuces Ruud finally sees it out. That was a long game, just over 10 mins, but a huge one for the Norwegian. He is here to play!
*Alcaraz 1-3 Ruud (*denotes server) Massive return from Ruud to make it 30-0. It’s a strong serve and he’s falling backwards trying to get to it, but he hits the a spinny shot leaving Alcaraz no chance. The world No 7 hits a forehand that looks out but the electronic line calls shows it is in. Alcaraz is shaken and Ruud breaks!
Alcaraz 1-2 Ruud* (*denotes server) Beautiful touch from Alcaraz to make it 15-15. Ruud tries to get to the short drop shot but hits it wide but his next serve is a bullet that Alcaraz wildly mishits. An ace takes the Norwegian up 40-30 and he wins the game after Alcaraz hits the next return out.
*Alcaraz 1-1 Ruud (*denotes server) Ruud returns Alcaraz’s first serve well out and then nets the next. The Spaniard makes it 40-0 after a short rally, his forehand unleashing all over the court to make Ruud run. And from there it is smooth sailing.
Alcaraz 0-1 Ruud* (*denotes server) Ruud gets the first points on the board after Alcaraz hits one long but the Spaniard then goes 30-15 up with two powerful backhands. Ruud then nets a forehand but makes up for it with an ace. He holds off another break point to take it to deuce and the two swap advantages for a while but it is Ruud who draws first blood after the Spaniard nets a drop shot.
One of the reasons Ruud is so good on clay is because he has a bit more time to set up his forehand. It is a lot more rushed on the hardcourts but he did well to move Alcaraz around in the first game.
Yesterday, Sinner got off to a winning start and Medvedev had a bit of a tantrum. Read our report below.
And we’re about to start today’s play. Ruud won the toss and elected to serve.
Alcaraz is making just his second appearance at the ATP Finals after reaching the semis last year. He lost his opening match Alexander Zverev and told the ATP website that he is hoping to make a fast start this year.
Last year was a difficult end of the year for me. I could not play at my best. The last two matches here were pretty good matches for me but the previous two, three tournaments I didn’t play at my best, so I realised I had to change a little bit at this time of the year, which I did this year.
I come here a little bit different. I approach this tournament a little differently, knowing there are things I have to change if I am to have a good result here and go far. Last year I didn’t start well from the first matches. I will try to play the same level and will try to play good tennis. I am coming here with a lot of motivation.
The players are out on the court and now warming up. Huge cheers for Alcaraz as he walks in, as expected. Ruud will be the underdog in this match and playing against the crowd.
This pair’s head-to-head record does not bode well for Ruud, with Alcaraz winning all four of their matches. Their last meeting was in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Beijing Open on hard court which the Spaniard won 6-4, 6-2.
For those new to tennis, the ATP Finals is the biggest men’s tennis event after the four grand slams and the format is quite different to other events.
The top eight players are separated into two groups of four where they each play three round-robin matches. After the group stage, the top two face off in the semi-finals and a final to determine the winner.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to our live blog of the ATP Finals group stage match between Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud. The two are the first to face off in the John Newcombe Group at the Inalpi Arena.
Alcaraz has had a fantastic year, winning two grand slams and winning silver at the Olympics. The world No 3 has a chance to move up a spot in the year-end rankings should he do well here in Turin.
Ruud, on the other hand, epitomises the saying ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride’. The world No 7 is a three-time slam finalist and also finished second at the 2022 ATP finals, losing 7-5, 6-3 to Novak Djokovic. He lost three ATP finals early on this year before winning in Barcelona and Geneva.
Join me for the 1pm GMT start and, as always, send me an email if you have any thoughts, predictions, questions, or complaints you would like to share.