Published on November 11, 2024 at 3:50 p.m. – updated on November 11, 2024 at 5:10 p.m.
This Monday, when he entered the fray at the ATP Masters, Casper Ruud created a sensation by dominating Carlos Alcaraz in two sets. With his back to the wall, the Spaniard will therefore have to react to Alexander Zverev.
Clearly, the surprises keep coming in Turin. Indeed, after Taylor Fritz’s victory against Daniil Medvedev this Sunday, this time it was Casper Ruud who defied the predictions. Opposed to Carlos Alcaraz in the first match of the John Newcombe group, the Norwegian perhaps expected to have a bad time on the court. This was not the case for the man who nevertheless suffered four defeats in a row (notably in the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters then in Metz last week). It is clear that the Spaniard is perhaps doubting even more than the latter at the moment. Because, today’s opposition between the two men turned clearly to the advantage of the 7th in the world, winner in two sets (6-1, 7-5) and 1h27 of play. In the first set, Ruud made the difference for the first time on the Spaniard’s serve at 2-1 before breaking again at 4-1.
Relaunched, Alcaraz finally… collapsed
Subsequently, forced to react after this completely failed start to the meeting, the world number 3 then tried to show a completely different face this Monday. By taking his opponent’s serve for the first time in this match at 3-2 to lead 4-2, then 5-2 thanks to a game calmly concluded on his serve, Alcaraz then seemed completely revived when he entered the competition in this Masters. This was without counting on a new big air hole in the latter. Trailing 5-2, Ruud didn’t give up and finally won this 2nd set (7-5), which allows him to ideally begin “the masters tournament” in Turin. If he succeeds in the next match against Andrey Rublev, the latter could take another step towards the last four of the competition. For his part, Alcaraz almost has no choice and will have to show a completely different face against Alexander Zverev, the man in form of the moment. Suffice to say that it should not be a cakewalk for the young Spaniard.
TENNIS / MASTERS ATP
GROUP B
1- Casper Ruud (NOR): 1 victory, 0 defeats, 2 sets won, 0 sets lost
2- Alexander Zverev (ALL): 0 victory, 0 defeat, 0 set won, 0 set lost
3- Andrey Rublev (RUS): 0 victory, 0 defeat, 0 set won, 0 set lost
4- Carlos Alcaraz (ESP): 0 victory, 1 defeat, 0 sets won, 2 sets lost