By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday November 11, 2024
Casper Ruud turned up his game and toppled Carlos Alcaraz for his first Top-5 win on a hard court on Monday at the ATP Finals.
Photo Source: TTC
If Carlos Alcaraz is going to finish his season by becoming the first Spaniard to produce an ATP Finals triumph since 1998, he has his work cut out.
On Monday the 21-year-old could not produce his brilliant best as he was stunned by Norway’s Casper Ruud, 6-1, 7-5 in one hour and 25 minutes at the Inalpi Arena in Turin. Alcaraz, who appeared to be struggling with some type of illness (more on that later), was erratic and couldn’t maintain momentum in his fifth lifetime meeting with Ruud.
Alcaraz tried to mount a comeback, and led 5-2 in the second set, but saw that lead evaporate as he went quietly, dropping the final five games to drop to 2-3 lifetime at the ATP Finals.
"I think we've all seen Carlos play tennis better than he did today, but I took my chances,” Ruud said after earning his first career Top-5 win on a hard court.
Credit to Ruud, who was the sharper player and clutch when it mattered in the opening set, as he saved all five of the break points he faced, and took advantage of some uncharacteristically flat play from Alcaraz to run away with six of the first seven games.
After converting the first break of the match for a 3-1 in set one, Ruud saved a break point and held for 4-1, then broke again as Alcaraz yanked a forehand wide at the 33-minute mark.
Ruud wrapped up the set in short order, but was challenged again in the second set as the 21-year-old Spaniard showed signs of life.
Alcaraz earned a break points at 3-2, 30-40, his sixth opportunity of the match, and converted as he probed the forecourt and executed a delicate half-volley pickup.
But Ruud had the answer.
A beautiful chip-lob combo gave the seventh-ranked Norwegian two break points as Alcaraz served for the set at 5-2, and Ruud quickly converted as an Alcaraz crosscourt backhand found the net.
His momentum didn’t stop there. Ruud ripped a backhand that was too hot to handle for Alcaraz as he broke for 6-5 moments later, and in the ensuing moments we got a glimpse of exactly how Alcaraz was feeling – The Spaniard was visibly upset, looking dejected with a towel over his head at the changeover.
The 25-year-old from Oslo put him out of his misery in the next game, converting his third match point with an ace, his 5th of the day.
“It’s only one match but it has to be one of the best wins of the season for me,” Ruud said, after earning just his third win since the US Open (from 11 matches). “In terms of who I’m playing, his level, his ranking – I feel very happy of course… I’m not oozing with confidence in the last weeks and months, it was a great win for me, hopefully I can build on it.
Ruud: I knew he was dealing with illness
Ruud said that he has been made aware of the fact that Alcaraz is dealing with a bit of illness.
“I kind of knew that he was maybe dealing with a bit of a cold,” he said. “I’ve seen him sniffling, always with a tissue for his nose. That’s a sign that maybe physically he won’t be necessarily at 100 percent. Of course that’s sad, and not good for him, but it’s also at the same time part of the game. I knew it coming in. I tried to make him play rallies and do my best.”