Carlos Alcaraz lost to Ruud on debut at the 2024 ATP Finals

Ruud’s first amazing set

Alcaraz, champion of four tournaments on the circuit this season including Wimbledon, Roland Garros and Indian Wells, appeared with a debutant’s desire on the center court of the Inapli Arena in Turin. But after Ruud’s stunning first set, his face changed.

Moreover, he also wanted to take revenge for last year’s defeat to Zverev on the first day. The score 4:0 in his favor against Ruud, who arrived at the tournament in a sea of ​​doubts and with only 8 victories since Roland Garros, made the Spaniard the main favorite of the day. However, the Norwegian, an experienced player in this competition in which he has reached the semi-finals each time, used his best shots on the walk. A powerful and accurate serve supported his game: accurate from the baseline, steady when Alcaraz gritted his teeth, determined when he saw a crack in Murciana.

Everything came together. A very messy match from Alcaraz and a great match from Ruud.as it has been for a long time. The Spaniard finished the first set with 15 unforced errors, including 8 on the backhand. Drop shots didn’t work as well as usual. This was not good. I also lost morally in the second, when I was leading 5–2. And Ruud took the opportunity to take the lead to justify himself in one of the most important tournaments.

And all this in a match that, moreover, seemed to work out for the Spaniard. Because in the first game he made two break balls. Then things got even worse. He corrected it in the next game and closed it with an empty-netter. But he lost his second serve. He had three more break points when the score was 3-1 in Ruud’s favour, but he missed them again. Break 5-1 in favor of the Norwegian and an empty game in the final 6-1 of the first bet. A spectacular ending for Ruud, a dramatic one for Alcaraz. Mistakes on break points doomed his game.

Unstoppable Norwegian. But the Spaniard, who had been training with a bandage on his nose to improve his breathing in recent days, was also somewhat weak, suffering from a cold.

Alcaraz scored early in the second set. The dynamics have changed. Or so everyone thought. Including tennis players. Because Alcaraz seemed to have landed in Turin at the level to which he was accustomed. It was good, really. The balls that did not hit the first one began to touch the line. The stock markets fell on their side. His fist began to celebrate high. He even led with a score of 5-2. He was left in limbo.

It wasn’t that day. Ruud began to gradually increase his points to stay afloat. Alcaraz fails again. Deep inside, in the net and with drop shots. More. The Spaniard began to grimace, realizing that he did not meet the level of requirements. So much so that little by little he fell apart in the match, losing to Ruud and losing a significant lead heading into the third set.

Two breaks in a row from Ruud, impassive. Suffer when it was his turn, determined when she could.

Ruud is back. He drew and Alcaraz was already devastated. After three goals scored – the final “ace” in the victory over the Spanish sensation. He took a giant step towards the semi-finals. Alcaraz will have to raise the level against Zverev and Rublev. Last year there were already troubles on the same track.

Last year, Alcaraz also lost his first match, interestingly, to Zverev, and eventually reached the semi-finals, where he lost to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.