Carlos Alcaraz faced a surprising defeat against Casper Ruud at the ATP Finals 2024 held in Turin. The match ended with Ruud winning in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5, marking his first victory over Alcaraz in their five encounters. Ruud, who reached the finals during the ATP Finals in 2022, showcased his skills by dominating Alcaraz throughout the match.
In the opening set, after a tied score of 1-1, Ruud won five consecutive games, taking advantage of Alcaraz’s 15 unforced errors. The second set saw Alcaraz fighting back, even taking a 5-2 lead. However, Ruud made a strong comeback, winning five straight games to secure his 50th victory of the tour this year.
After the match, Ruud expressed his joy over defeating Alcaraz for the first time. However, he noted that Alcaraz seemed to be struggling with his health.
“I didn’t know what to expect. I just wanted to play well. I gave it my all from the first point to the last. Everyone knows how amazing Carlos is, both as a player and a person. It feels great to finally defeat him,” Ruud commented during the post-match interview.
Ruud also mentioned that he noticed Alcaraz appeared to be under the weather, saying, “I could see he was dealing with a bit of a cold. He was sniffling and was often seen with a tissue. That’s a sign he might not be at his best physically, which is unfortunate.”
Looking ahead, Ruud is set to play against either Andrey Rublev or Alexander Zverev on November 13 in the John Newcombe Group. On the other hand, Alcaraz, aiming for his fifth title of the season, will be looking to recover and keep his chances for a semifinal spot alive.
