The ATP Finals’ Day 2 brought an unexpected twist that caught many tennis fans by surprise. World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Norwegian player Casper Ruud in their first ‘John Newcombe group’ match, shaking up the tournament dynamics right from the outset. Heading into the clash, most had anticipated a strong performance from Alcaraz, but it was Ruud—runner-up in Turin in 2022—who emerged victorious with a stunning display, taking advantage of a visibly ailing Alcaraz. Ruud, who had struggled with form since the US Open, delivered his best match of the season, while Alcaraz appeared far from his peak condition.
Alcaraz, who had shown flashes of brilliance throughout the year, opened up about his health struggles that plagued him even before arriving in Turin. The 21-year-old Spaniard revealed that he had been feeling unwell prior to his trip and his condition worsened on the eve of his encounter with Ruud. Despite managing to build a promising 5-2 lead in the second set, Alcaraz faltered, allowing Ruud to mount a comeback and reel off five consecutive games to claim the set and the match.
This loss comes as a setback for Alcaraz, who had faced a similar situation last year when he dropped his opening match to Sascha Zverev but managed to progress to the semifinals as the second seed in his group. Alcaraz, who has already won four Grand Slam titles in his young career, will face Andrey Rublev next in what promises to be a critical encounter. Rublev himself comes into this match on the back of a straight-set loss to Zverev. The two last met in the quarterfinals of the Mutua Madrid Open earlier this year, where Rublev emerged victorious due in part to Alcaraz’s forearm injury at the time.
Despite the challenging start to his ATP Finals campaign, Alcaraz remains in contention for a spot in the semifinals. However, the path forward is clear but difficult—he must defeat Rublev in straight sets on Wednesday and hope for a Zverev victory over Ruud. On the final day of group play, Alcaraz would need to overcome Zverev while Rublev would have to defeat Ruud for the Spaniard’s chances to hold. Much, however, hinges on Alcaraz’s health, which he acknowledged was a pressing concern.
Speaking candidly at his press conference, Alcaraz shared insights into his struggles. “Well, a few days before coming here, I got sick at home,” he said. “And yeah, the days that I was practicing here, I was feeling okay. Not pretty good, but okay. I could play. I could feel that I can get into the rallies in the practice. Obviously, in the matches it’s totally different. But today I didn’t feel well. This morning, I felt uncomfortable in the stomach. After long rallies today, I couldn’t feel well… I don’t want to, you know, make excuses. But if I feel bad, I feel bad. It is what happened today.”
Fatigue has also begun to take its toll on Alcaraz after a grueling season. “Some players deal with it better than others. I’m tired. I’m tired mentally,” he admitted. “Obviously a lot of matches, really tight schedule, really demanding year with not too many days off, not too many periods where you could rest or practice at home.”
While Alcaraz struggled, Ruud capitalized on the opportunity with exceptional focus and tactical brilliance. The world No. 7 knew he had a unique chance against an under-the-weather Alcaraz and played with determination to earn a crucial win. “I kind of knew he was maybe dealing with a bit of a cold. I saw him sniffling around in the area here, always with a tissue for his nose. That’s a sign that maybe physically he won’t be necessarily at 100%. Of course, that’s sad and not good for him. But it’s also part of the game,” Ruud explained. “I knew it coming in. I tried to make him play rallies and do my best. It’s not easy. When you know someone isn’t 100%, you get stressed. You think, ‘Oh, this is a really big chance for me to win.’”
Ruud, who has faced his own challenges in recent months, was visibly proud of his performance. “It’s only one match, but it’s one of the best wins of the season in terms of who I am playing and his ranking,” he said. “I feel really happy. I think we have seen Carlos play better tennis, but I took care of my chances. I haven’t been boosting with confidence in the last few months, so it’s a great win for me and I would like to get some more wins in Turin.”
Ruud’s success was reminiscent of his impressive 2022 run to the ATP Finals final, where he fell to 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. This year, the slower surface in Turin appears to be working in Ruud’s favor, enhancing his chances to finish the season on a high note.
As Alcaraz prepares to fight for his survival in the tournament, all eyes will be on his health and ability to bounce back. Meanwhile, Ruud will look to build on this momentum and potentially upset the established hierarchy in the ATP Finals. Both players have their sights set on the semifinals, but only time will tell who will rise to the occasion. For now, the competition in Turin remains as intense and unpredictable as ever.