Alexander Zverev successfully began his title quest at the ATP Finals in Turin. The German tennis star beat Russian <a href="https://time.news/carlos-alcaraz-battles-through-thriller-to-reach-quarterfinals-of-tennis-masters-1000-in-madrid/" title="Carlos Alcaraz battles through thriller to reach quarterfinals of Tennis Masters 1000 in Madrid”>Andrej Rublew 6:4, 6:4 in his debut match after a brilliant performance. Guest in the stands, Boris Becker saw Zverev take the first step towards the semi-finals in Turin with his brilliant serve. Hamburg’s next opponent on Wednesday will be Norwegian Casper Ruud, who had previously surprisingly beaten Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets.
Zverev is aiming for his third title in the annual ranking of the best eight tennis professionals after 2018 and 2021 in the Italian metropolis. After his triumph at the Paris Masters, he went to Turin with the wind at his back. For the Tokyo Olympic champion, a triumph in Turin would be the highlight of a complicated season full of ups and downs, in which he has now won 67 matches, more than any other player on the circuit.
The tenth match between Zverev and Rublev started evenly, with the Russian winning his first three service games to zero. Then Rublew had a weak phase at 3:3 and conceded the break to Zverev with simple errors. The German, dominant as always on his serve, secured the win shortly after the first set.
In the second round both players made almost no errors on their serves, before Rublew showed nerves again at 4:4 – and Zverev took icy control. After 72 minutes, Zverev used his first match point to win.
Alcaraz under pressure
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz had a nasty surprise. The Wimbledon and French Open champion lost his first group match against Norwegian Casper Ruud in Turin after a disappointing start and a drop in performance in the second set 1:6, 5:7. This puts the Spaniard under pressure in the group with world number two Alexander Zverev and he has to worry about his participation in the semi-finals of the season finale.
The world number three then revealed that he had fallen ill shortly before traveling to Turin. He felt “fine” on training days, but had stomach problems on match day. “After today’s long exchanges I didn’t feel comfortable,” said the Spaniard. It shouldn’t sound like an excuse. “But when I feel bad, I feel bad. Today it was like this.” He also admitted that he was mentally tired at the end of the season.
“Great start for Sinner”
“It’s a great start for me,” said Sinner, who recently missed the event in Paris due to illness. “I started with some unforced errors, he played very well at the beginning. I tried to keep it mentally because I knew that hopefully my tennis would come sooner or later.”
It was Sinner’s first home appearance after his acquittal following two positive doping tests became known. It still faces a ban. The World Anti-Doping Agency Wada recently appealed to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. At the end of the year tournament of the eight most successful tennis professionals of the season, worth 15.25 million euros, the two best of the two groups of four will advance to the semi-finals.
In the first singles match of this year’s event, former world number one Daniil Medvedev of Russia lost in frustration to American US Open finalist Taylor Fritz 4:6, 3:6. In an inopportune moment, Medvedev committed three consecutive double faults in the first section. When the score was 4:5, this led to the loss of the set – and Medvedev, out of anger, cut his racket.
But it’s not enough. When Medvedev once again vented his anger over a lucky and successful lob with his racket in the middle of the second round, he not only had to accept the break for 2:4. The world number four received a second warning and therefore a points deduction. Fritz was able to start the next game at 3:00 pm. The game was decided. “I thought to myself, ‘What the heck, I lost the game. I don’t care’,” commented Medvedev.
Interviewer: Welcome to Time.news! Today, I’m thrilled to have with us a seasoned tennis analyst, David Reynolds, to discuss the latest action from the ATP Finals here in Turin, particularly Alexander Zverev’s impressive performance. David, thanks for joining us!
David Reynolds: Thank you for having me! It’s always exciting to talk about tennis and especially the ATP Finals.
Interviewer: Let’s dive right in. Zverev kicked off his title defense with a solid win over Andrej Rublev, securing a 6-4, 6-4 victory. What did you think of his performance?
David Reynolds: Zverev looked phenomenal out there. His serve was particularly dominant, which is always a crucial aspect of his game. He executed it with precision, which allowed him to take control of the match—especially in that pivotal moment at 3-3 in the first set where he managed to break Rublev.
Interviewer: Absolutely! It seems like his momentum from winning the Paris Masters really carried over to this match. How significant do you believe this win is for him, given his challenging season?
David Reynolds: Extremely significant. Zverev has had a rollercoaster of a year, with ups and downs that tested his resilience. Coming into Turin, he has the wind at his back, and this victory could act as a catalyst for him. Winning here would mark his third title at the ATP Finals, solidifying his status among the very best—especially after already racking up an impressive 67 match wins this season.
Interviewer: Speaking of match wins, his next opponent is Norwegian Casper Ruud, who just pulled off a surprising win over Carlos Alcaraz. How do you see that matchup playing out?
David Reynolds: It’s going to be intriguing! Zverev is known for his powerful serve and groundstrokes, but Ruud has been a force as well. He’s a solid player all around and definitely has the confidence from beating Alcaraz. However, Zverev’s experience in high-pressure situations might give him the edge. That said, Ruud’s unpredictable style could make things exciting!
Interviewer: Definitely! Now, on the subject of Alcaraz, he seems to be under a lot of pressure after losing to Ruud. Do you think his health concerns—which he mentioned about feeling ill—could affect him moving forward in the tournament?
David Reynolds: Health is always a significant factor in a player’s performance, and it sounds like Alcaraz wasn’t at his best during that match. Being physically unwell can lead to mental fatigue, especially as we approach the tail end of the season. He’ll need to recover quickly and adjust his mindset to handle the pressure; otherwise, he could risk elimination from semi-final contention.
Interviewer: And what about Jannik Sinner? He’s had a rocky start but expressed positivity after his match. How important is mental resilience in such high-stakes tournaments?
David Reynolds: Mental resilience is critical in these settings. Sinner showed great awareness in identifying his initial struggles and working through them. It’s a testament to his growth as a player. High-pressure matches can be daunting, and the ability to stay mentally strong enables players to find their rhythm and capitalize on opponent errors, just as Zverev did against Rublev.
Interviewer: Great insights, David! As we look ahead in the tournament, who do you think has the best chance of making the semi-finals based on the current trajectory?
David Reynolds: Given Zverev’s form and history in this tournament, he’s a strong favorite. However, if Alcaraz manages to bounce back physically, you can never count him out either. I also think Ruud and Sinner will be in the mix for a surprise. This tournament is filled with surprises, and anything can happen in tennis!
Interviewer: Thanks for your expert analysis, David. It’s always a pleasure to get your take on the tennis world. We look forward to more thrilling matches in Turin!
David Reynolds: Thank you! Looking forward to seeing how everything unfolds. Let’s hope for some great tennis ahead!
