ATP Finals: Alexander Zverev defeats Carlos Alcaraz as Casper Ruud clinches semi-final spot with Andrey Rublev win
Casper Ruud to face world No 1 Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev to take on Taylor Fritz in semi-finals after beating Carlos Alcaraz; watch the ATP Finals on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+ which is integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app
Saturday 16 November 2024 07:24, UK
Casper Ruud booked a semi-final meeting with world No 1 Jannik Sinner at the ATP Finals after his 6-4 5-7 6-2 victory over Andrey Rublev helped confirm Carlos Alcaraz's exit.
Zverev seals world-class win over Alcaraz
Alcaraz was earlier beaten by Alexander Zverev in sensational fashion with the German making it through to the final four, where he will face Taylor Fritz, after a third straight-sets win in three.
The world No 2 secured his third victory in a row with a lung-busting performance to edge out Alcaraz 7-6 6-4 and finish top of the John Newcombe Group.
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Zverev was asked if he was playing the best tennis of his life during his on-court interview.
The German said: "You guys need to relax a little bit. It has been three fantastic matches, I'm happy to be 3-0 in the group for sure, but the semi-finals now are going to be very difficult - no matter who I am against.
"Taylor beat me the last few times we've played at the Slams, but I'm looking forward to that match.
"Carlos has beaten me too many times this year in important matches, so I'm happy I got this one. We have a pretty good rivalry, but a great friendship as well.
"It's always great to share the court with him."
Alcaraz again wore a pink nose strip after coming to Turin sick and having struggled with breathing issues in his opening loss to Ruud.
He was under intense pressure on his serve in the opening set, saving seven break points, including a set point at 5-6.
Zverev wobbled in the tie-break having led 5-2 but did eventually make it across the line, with Alcaraz hurling his racket into his towel in frustration.
The German then forced a first break of serve to start the second set and Alcaraz could not find a way back.
Zverev won 73 per cent of his points on serve and thumped 29 winners in the one hour and 57-minute contest, taking a 6-5 head-to-head advantage over Alcaraz.
It was a measure of revenge for Zverev, who was beaten by Alcaraz in five sets in this year's French Open final.
Zverev: I stayed cool in the vital moments
"Today was a real high-level match. I think there were a lot of highlights from both of us, especially in the tie-break and the last game of the match," the German told Sky Sports' Tim Henman.
"I'm happy with my composure, that I stayed cool in the vital moments and finished it off.
"I'm looking forward to the semis tomorrow, playing Taylor [Fritz], who has beaten me the last two times at Wimbledon and the US Open. He has beaten me in some big matches."
'World-class performance from Zverev'
"That was a pretty world-class performance he just put in there," said Laura Robson.
"The way he is playing is so impressive. He's super aggressive, he knew what needed to be done, he had to take his game to Carlos - he couldn't play passive tennis.
"He was able to do that in the very key moments in this match-up. He just trusted himself."
Henman: Zverev is playing brilliantly!
"He is just playing brilliantly. His serving is incredible - 80 per cent first serves," said Henman, a six-time Grand Slam semi-finalist.
"It used to be that if you got above 60, you'd think you'd had a good serving day. He is also more aggressive from the back of the court.
"Before, you used to say he was a bit one dimensional - banging down big serves and then just playing from the baseline. But now, when he gets the opportunity to cut off the angle and move forward, he takes it.
"He is set up very well for this semi-final [against Fritz]."
Tale of the Tape
Ruud advances to semis with win over Rublev
Ruud went into his final group game against Rublev knowing that winning one set, even in defeat, would be good enough to see him progress to the semi-finals.
Rublev, meanwhile still had hope of a late rally to secure his spot, despite defeats in his opening two matches, as a straight-sets victory could have seen him, or even Alcaraz, go through.
Instead, Ruud ensured such complicated scenarios were avoided as he took the opening set 6-4, despite admitting to pre-match nerves given the bizarre set of circumstances the match was played under.
"I was a little bit nervous tonight in the beginning, knowing I needed just one set to qualify," Ruud admitted in his on-court interview.
"Once I got that, I still had to focus on the match and I finished with a good third set."
Rublev, despite his exit being confirmed when losing that opening set, rallied to take the second 7-5 and force a decider which Ruud would ultimately claim 6-2 to go into his matchup with Sinner on a winning note.
Ruud: No doubt Sinner is best in the world
"I think for sure [I'm the underdog against Sinner]. There's no doubt in my mind that he's the best player in the world this year," Ruud said on his semi-final opponent.
"He is deservedly the world No 1, he is playing at home and he hasn't dropped a set all week.
"He is definitely the player to beat this year. It seems like this guy almost forgot how to lose.
"I'm going to try my best and see if I can come up with something that might challenge him tomorrow. I'm going to be prepared from probably my toughest match of the year."
'Two clear favourites for semi-finals'
"They're very good semi-finals, but with two clear favourites," Sky Sports' Henman said.
"There is no doubt that Sinner and Zverev have been the men in form. They've played absolutely brilliant tennis - three victories each.
"It is going to take a hell of a performance from Ruud or Fritz to upset Sinner or Zverev. They've got to go out there with belief they can really cause the upset."
Tale of the Tape
What's happening Saturday at the ATP Finals on Sky Sports Tennis?
- It's semi-finals day in Turin with Alexander Zverev taking on American Taylor Fritz, to whom he has lost three times in a row (not before 1.30pm GMT)
- World No 1 Jannik Sinner will take on Casper Ruud (not before 8.30pm).
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