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Associated Press

Agence France-Presse

Carlos Alcaraz struggled with a stomach issue and looked far from the player who won two grand slams this year while losing to Casper Ruud 6-1, 7-5 at the ATP Finals on Monday.
It marked Ruud’s first victory over Alcaraz in five career meetings, and the result could make it difficult for Alcaraz to advance from the round-robin stage at the season-ending event for the top eight players.
“I didn’t feel well on court,” Alcaraz said. “A few days before coming here, I got sick at home. … This morning, I feel uncomfortable in the stomach.”
In the same group, Alexander Zverev began his bid for a third ATP Finals title by beating Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-4.
The top two finishers from each group advance to the semi-finals.

On Sunday, top-ranked Jannik Sinner and US Open finalist Taylor Fritz beat Alex de Minaur and Daniil Medvedev, respectively, in the other group.
Alcaraz won the French Open and Wimbledon to boost his career total to four grand slam titles. But he also struggled at the Paris Masters recently and dropped behind Zverev to No 3 in the rankings this week.
“I have no experience playing on indoor courts,” Alcaraz said. “I’ll be a really good player on indoor courts, I’m sure about it. But I think it’s about time, about getting experience. … A lot of players are better than me on indoor court.”
Ruud reached the 2021 semi-finals and 2022 final in his first two appearances at the finals. But he has struggled recently, too, losing his first or second match in his past seven events.
“I’m not full of confidence,” Ruud said. “A match like today might be able to change it.”
Alcaraz led 25-16 in winners but committed 26 unforced errors to Ruud’s 10.
Ruud converted all four of his break points while Alcaraz hit just one of six in that category.
“I’m tired mentally,” Alcaraz said. “Obviously a lot of matches, really tight schedule, really demanding year with not too many days off.”
Zverev, who won the finals in 2018 in London and 2021 in Turin, extended his winning streak to six matches following a title run at the Paris Masters.
Rublev is making his fifth consecutive appearance at the finals but has not won a match at the event since 2022.

Zverev served nine aces and dropped only 10 points on his serve in 10 service games.
“I was never sure I was going to get back to this level,” Zverev said on the court in Turin. “Second year in a row for me here. I still want to get better. I still want to improve on a few things. We’ll see how next year goes.”
Rublev said he was amazed by the German’s serves.
“He served wide 220 [kmh] on the deuce side,” he said. “Normally everybody serves slice and it’s 190.
“He finds a way to serve 220 wide on the deuce side. It’s not easy.
“Even if you catch the direction, when the flat serve comes 227, slice serve comes 219, 215, it’s tough to just see the ball.”


ATP Finals: Carlos Alcaraz struggles with stomach issue in shock loss to Casper Ruud

ATP Finals: Daniil Medvedev gets ‘zero pleasure’ on court, says every match a ‘struggle’

Key to Zheng Qinwen beating Coco Gauff in WTA Finals lies in killer serve, cutting out mistakes

ATP Finals: home hero Jannik Sinner keen to show his best at ‘special’ season-ending event

ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz says he is tired mentally, besides having a stomach issue in his loss to Norway’s Casper Ruud. Photo: AP

Norway’s Casper Ruud converted all four of his break points while Alcaraz got just one of six. Photo: AP

Andrey Rublev of Russia was astounded by German Alexander Zverev’s serves. Photo: EPA-EFE

Italian world No 1 Jannik Sinner arrives for the blue carpet event of the ATP Finals in Turin on Thursday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Sinner (left) is grouped with (from left) Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur. Photo: EPA-EFE

This year’s Finals will not feature Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer nor Rafael Nadal. Photo: EPA-EFE

The other group has (from left) Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud and Andrej Rublev. Photo: EPA-EFE

Daniil Medvedev throws aside a racquet he had just broken in anger during his ATP Finals match against Taylor Fritz on Sunday. Photo: AP

Taylor Fritz says he was not bothered by Medvedev’s actions, saying he “always cracks me up”. Photo: EPA-EFE

Italy’s Jannik Sinner (right) beat Australia’s Alex de Minaur to improve his winning record to 8-0. Photo: AFP

Grand slam winner Barbora Krejcikova slams ‘unprofessional’ comment about her appearance

Former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic in action against China’s Zheng Qinwen in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday. Photo: AP

Barbora Krejcikova (left) shakes hands with winner Zheng Qinwen of China after their semi-final. Photo: AP

Sport

Tennis

Casper Ruud’s first victory over Alcaraz in 5 career meetings could make it difficult for the Spaniard with Germany’s Zverev on a hot streak


Casper Ruud’s first victory over Alcaraz in 5 career meetings could make it difficult for the Spaniard with Germany’s Zverev on a hot streak.


ATP Finals