Matching Report
Ruud storms to Turin, upsets Alcaraz at Nitto ATP Finals
The Norwegian says the first Top 3 wins on hard courts
November 11, 2024
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Casper Ruud defeated Carlos Alcaraz on Monday in the final of the Nitto ATP in Turin.
Written by Andy West
When it comes to the Nitto ATP Finals, Casper Ruud rarely delivers anything less than his best.
The Norwegian on Monday upset Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 7-5 to register an early shock in the prestigious season finale in Turin. Ruud, who reached the championship match in his previous appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals in 2022, masterfully capitalized on the performance of third-seeded Alcaraz to claim victory in 86 minutes inside the Inalpi Arena.
RUU-THLESS RUUD 🥶
A relentless @CasperRuud98 surprising number 3 seed Alcaraz in Turin!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/IGJdKxQC7
– ATP Tour (@atptour) November 11, 2024
“It's only one game, but it's one of the best wins of the season for me,” said Ruud. “Because who is playing me, his quality, his quality and all this. I feel very happy of course. I think we will see Carlos play better tennis than he did today, but I took care of my chances.
“I have never been [full of] confidence in the last weeks or months, so it was a good win for me and hopefully I can build on it, and I'd like to get some more wins while I'm in Turin. ”
Although Alcaraz appeared to be under his spell when they met on Monday, Ruud looked to have transformed into a player who entered the game having registered two victories since the US Open. The 25-year-old hit the ball from both wings and showed few signs of discomfort en route to his first Lexus ATP Head2Head win in five attempts against Alcaraz.
The early signs were positive for Ruud as he began his third Nitto ATP Finals campaign. The No. 7 in the PIF ATP Rankings snapped a five-match streak from 1-1 on the way to the first set, although he was greatly helped by 15 unforced errors from an out-of-form Alcaraz.
Even as the Spaniard began to find his range in the second set, his comeback bid was hampered by his inconsistency. Despite taking a 5-2 lead, Alcaraz couldn't close and Ruud roared back with another five-match streak to win his 50th tournament in 2024. The Norwegian had converted all four of his break points, according to Infosys ATP. Statistics.
“It can be tricky,” said Ruud, when asked about playing when the opponent is not at 100 percent. “I knew you had a fever. I saw him sniffing in the back area and with a tissue in his nose, so that's a sign that maybe physically he's not really 100 percent. Of course, that's sad, and it's not good for him, but at the same time it's part of the game.
“I knew it was coming in. I tried to make him play rallies and do my best, but it's not easy because when you know that someone is not 100 percent, maybe you find yourself depressed. You think, 'This is a great opportunity for me to maybe try to win'. So I just tried to stay in my world, for now, and luckily I got a good start. I got a break early and kept it, and in the second set I was able to turn it around with some good tennis at the end.”
Ruud will also be looking for a second win on Wednesday, when he faces either Alexander Zverev or Andrey Rublev in the John Newcombe Group. Monday's defeat is a blow to Alcaraz's hopes of reaching the semi-finals in Turin for the second consecutive year, but the Spaniard will be hoping to raise his game in the next round as he chases his fifth tour-level title of the season.
