Carlos Alcaraz Overcomes Physical Issues To Move Back Into Contention at ATP Finals 2024; Alexander Zverev Beats Casper Rudd

Mumbai, November 14: Carlos Alcaraz had his drop shot clicking and it helped him overcome physical issues to claim a 6-3, 7-6 (8) victory over Andrey Rublev at the ATP Finals.  The win put Alcaraz back into contention for a spot in the semifinals of the year-ending tournament for the top eight players, after he was beaten by Casper Ruud in straight sets in his opener. Also, Alexander Zverev made it two wins in two matches by beating Ruud 7-6 (3), 6-3. ATP Finals 2024: Daniil Medvedev Bounces Back With Win Over Alex De Minaur in Second Group Stage Match.

Zverev leads the group, Alcaraz and Ruud have one win each, and Rublev dropped to 0-2 after losing to Zverev in their opener. Top-ranked Jannik Sinner leads the other group ahead of Taylor Fritz, Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur.

The top two finishers in each round-robin group advance to the semifinals.

Alcaraz said after the Ruud match on Monday that he hadn't been feeling well and was “uncomfortable in the stomach.” The Spaniard then cut short a practice session on Tuesday.

“I just tried to be focused on my game, on what I have to do, and forget about that I'm not feeling well, I'm sick and all that stuff,” Alcaraz said.

Alcaraz wore a pink nose strip to help with his breathing. “It is something that I'm going to wear more often,” he said. “I could recover better between points.”

Alcaraz produced several drop-shot winners, and on the occasions when Rublev did run down the short balls, the Spaniard hit winners into the open court on his next shot. Alexander Zverev Begins ATP Finals 2024 Campaign With Dominant Win Over Andrey Rublev.

Late in the second set, Alcaraz even produced a drop-shot approach volley winner. In the second set tiebreaker, he saved two set points.

“I felt like the last month I couldn't hit good drops,” said Alcaraz, who dropped behind Alexander Zverev to No. 3 in the rankings this week. “And I was thinking, What's going on?' You know, my style, my game is about playing these kind of shots ... so I tried to do it today.”

In all, Alcaraz produced more than twice as many winners as Rublev, 31-14. “I think he missed only one when he was 40-0 up,” Rublev said of Alcaraz's drop shots. “All the rest he won.”

Alcaraz plays Zverev in his final group match and Rublev plays Ruud. Zverev stays on course for a 3rd title at finalsZverev served 11 aces and didn't face a single break point to stay on course for a third trophy at the finals after titles in London on 2018 and in Turin in 2021. Zverev extended his winning streak to seven matches following a title run at the Paris Masters. After his matches lately, Zverev has come back out to practice more. ATP Finals 2024: Rohan Bopanna-Matthew Ebden Suffers Second Defeat on Trot, Semi-Finals Hope Take Major Hit Following Loss Against Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic.

“I want to develop my game further so I can compete with Jannik and Carlos,” Zverev said. “They're the two benchmarks right now. They're the ones that are winning Grand Slams. I want to be part of that group. I know they're going to improve, so I have to keep up.”

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