Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz set for high-stakes tussle in Turin | ATP Tour

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Zverev, Alcaraz set for high-stakes tussle in Turin

Ruud, Rublev meet in night session

November 14, 2024

The round-robin stage of the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals concludes Friday, with all nonetheless to play for within the John Newcombe Group.

Alexander Zverev tops the desk with a 2-0 file, however even his place within the semi-finals isn’t assured forward of a Day 6 showdown with Carlos Alcaraz. Following that day-session conflict, night opponents Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev will know precisely the place they stand of their quest for the knockout rounds.

In doubles motion, Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz bid to finish an ideal marketing campaign within the Bob Bryan Group once they tackle sixth seeds Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden. Prime seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic face Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in a de facto quarter-final, with the winner set to advance to the semis alongside group winners Krawietz/Puetz. Arevalo and Pavic clinched 12 months-Finish ATP Doubles No. 1 offered by PIF honours after Thursday’s leads to Turin.

[2] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. [3] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
Whereas Zverev tops the group with a pair of straight-set wins in opposition to Rublev and Ruud, he should win a minimum of one set in opposition to Alcaraz to substantiate his place within the semi-finals — although he might nonetheless progress even with a straight-sets defeat.

The German’s Nitto ATP Finals expertise has shone by means of this week, with Zverev sharp from the very first ball in Turin. A two-time champion on the season finale (2018, 2021), Zverev owns a 16-9 file on the occasion in seven appearances — probably the most of any competitor this 12 months.

“It means I am previous!” the 27-year-old joked about that stat. “However I nonetheless don’t really feel previous. I hope I’ve one other stable 10 years forward of me, however I believe it’s a younger group of men. There was type of a shift in tennis this 12 months and I believe it’s a great factor. They’re thrilling new gamers and all people loves watching them.”

Alcaraz, already a four-time Grand Slam champion on the age of 21, is likely one of the younger stars main that shift. He confronted a tumultuous begin in his second Turin look, battling by means of sickness and dropping his opening match to Ruud in straight units. With the help of a pink nasal strip, he recovered sufficient to beat Rublev 6-3, 7-6(8) in his second match, maintaining him firmly within the hunt for a semi-final spot.

“It was a really stable match. I wanted it and it offers me lots of confidence for Friday, which will probably be powerful,” the Spaniard assessed. “My possibilities of qualifying are nonetheless there, so we’re going to go all out.”

Friday’s matchup will break a 5-5 tie within the Lexus ATP Head2Head between Alcaraz and Zverev. They met 3 times this season on a number of the sport’s greatest levels, with Zverev successful within the Australian Open quarters earlier than Alcaraz triumphed within the Indian Wells quarters and in a five-set Roland Garros last.

The multi-surface success of each males underlines their means to assault and defend at an elite stage, with each presenting few holes for opponents to use. Once they have been drawn in the identical group, Alcaraz defined simply what makes the German such a tricky out.

“He is likely one of the hardest gamers on the planet for certain,” he mentioned of Zverev. “I believe I return fairly nicely however he has a very huge serve and performs unbelievable from the baseline, which makes him a very powerful opponent to face.

“I don’t prefer to face him due to his serves and pictures,” he continued, “however I’m looking for the great thing about taking part in him.”

Neither participant has received greater than two consecutive matches to date on this Lexus ATP Head2Head collection. Alcaraz will look to vary that on Friday.

Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev” model=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/photos/information/2024/11/14/18/57/ruud-rublev-turin-2024-h2h.jpg”>

[6] Casper Ruud (NOR) vs. [8] Andrey Rublev
At 0-2 and and not using a set received this week, Rublev has just one path to the semi-finals. He should rating a straight-sets win in opposition to Ruud and have Zverev defeat Alcaraz in straight units. That might ship Zverev by means of to the semis as group winner and arrange a three-way tie for second place, which might be damaged by share of video games received.

Ruud sits in second place within the group with a 1-1 file and can know precisely what he must do to progress by the point he takes the court docket Friday night. The Norwegian will put his friendship with Rublev to 1 facet because the pair lock horns for a fierce battle within the Inalpi Enviornment, simply as Rublev will park his pleasant off-court disposition in favour of his fiery on-court persona.

“[Rublev] simply rips the ball from either side. He’s such a form individual,” Ruud mentioned of that dichotomy. “I seemed as much as him as a result of he’s a 12 months older than me and he acquired to the Prime 10 and began successful huge tournaments approach earlier than I did.”

Ruud has already encountered loads of energy from Alcaraz and Zverev this week, however each of these gamers have a tendency to choose their spots to go huge. Rublev, against this, will usually red-line at each alternative. Whereas he has but to hit his stride in Turin, there’s nonetheless time for his tennis to click on.

Rublev described his season as a rollercoaster, with titles in Hong Kong and Madrid — plus a last run in Montreal — among the many peaks. On the again finish of an eventful 12 months, he entered his fifth Nitto ATP Finals feeling relaxed.

“I’m attempting to do a unique method this 12 months. At the very least I really feel extra relaxed and that’s the very best,” he defined. “Out of 4 occasions I’ve performed, I went to the semi-finals solely as soon as. 3 times I misplaced within the group spherical. So if I lose three or 4 occasions, doesn’t change something.”

With nothing to lose in his group finale, count on Rublev to take the motion to Ruud in a baseline battle.

Doubles Motion
Krawietz/Puetz are confirmed as group winners and Bopanna/Ebden have been eradicated from semi-final competition, however each will probably be taking part in for PIF ATP Doubles Rankings factors and prize cash of their Friday matchup.

The night matchup between Arevalo/Pavic and Bolelli/Vavassori will decide the second-place group within the Bob Bryan Group. With each groups proudly owning a 1-1 match file and a 2-2 set file, the Italians enter the match in second place based mostly on share of video games received. There will probably be no tie-break procedures wanted come Friday evening after what basically quantities to a quarter-final contest.