‘I did surprise myself’ says Alcaraz after win over Rublev

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz made light of feeling under the weather as he dispatched Russia’s Andrey Rublev in impressive fashion to revive his ATP Finals hopes on Wednesday night.

The Spanish four-time Grand Slam champion has been suffering with respiratory issues in Turin, and wore pink nasal tape against Rublev in a resounding 6-3 7-6(8) victory.

In the late match in the John Newcombe group, two-time former champion Alexander Zverev, the World No.2, underlined his superb late-season form to beat Norway’s Casper Ruud 7-6(3) 6-3 for his second victory of the week.

None of the eight men’s singles matches so far at this year’s season-ender have gone to three sets.

Third seed Alcaraz, bidding to win the title for the first time, looked far sharper than during his opening group match, which ended in a straight-sets defeat by Ruud.

“I did surprise myself,” Alcaraz, who had to abandon a practice session on Tuesday, said on court.

“I just tried to focus on my game and what I had to do, and not that I wasn’t feeling well. Once you step on court, you have to forget that.

“I felt good from the baseline running, and felt I had more options today.”

After sharing the opening six games, Alcaraz broke Rublev’s serve with a scorching forehand winner and reeled off five successive games to seize control of the match.

World No.8 Rublev, who also lost his opening match to Zverev, stayed with Alcaraz in the second set and could have earned a couple of break points at 2-2 had he not missed a routine ball after chasing a drop shot.

Both players served well to take the match into a high-octane tiebreak in which Alcaraz forged ahead, but had to fend off two set points before sealing victory.

Rublev has now lost six successive matches at the ATP Finals in straight sets since reaching the semi-finals in 2022.

AFP