The Fort Worth Press - 'Solid' Zverez eases past Rublev as Alcaraz falters against Ruud

USD -
AED 3.673004
AFN 67.000539
ALL 91.99997
AMD 387.649862
ANG 1.803609
AOA 912.000112
ARS 998.292528
AUD 1.542246
AWG 1.8
AZN 1.700741
BAM 1.839835
BBD 2.020546
BDT 119.582702
BGN 1.848445
BHD 0.376942
BIF 2898
BMD 1
BND 1.337466
BOB 6.915139
BRL 5.811603
BSD 1.000762
BTN 84.395861
BWP 13.578807
BYN 3.274884
BYR 19600
BZD 2.01714
CAD 1.39884
CDF 2865.000453
CHF 0.88578
CLF 0.035504
CLP 979.669589
CNY 7.225098
CNH 7.244355
COP 4479
CRC 511.011392
CUC 1
CUP 26.5
CVE 104.349936
CZK 23.943021
DJF 177.720103
DKK 7.066005
DOP 60.250156
DZD 134.109644
EGP 49.343392
ERN 15
ETB 122.04992
EUR 0.94715
FJD 2.271796
FKP 0.786733
GBP 0.78724
GEL 2.729861
GGP 0.786733
GHS 16.249862
GIP 0.786733
GMD 70.502399
GNF 8631.000306
GTQ 7.732613
GYD 209.3638
HKD 7.781485
HNL 25.070127
HRK 7.099488
HTG 131.582908
HUF 386.160085
IDR 15814.45
ILS 3.754225
IMP 0.786733
INR 84.42905
IQD 1310.5
IRR 42092.502326
ISK 139.480322
JEP 0.786733
JMD 158.431955
JOD 0.709098
JPY 155.490981
KES 129.501197
KGS 86.196076
KHR 4055.000182
KMF 464.605413
KPW 900.000259
KRW 1407.050332
KWD 0.30765
KYD 0.833937
KZT 493.231612
LAK 21960.000254
LBP 89599.999751
LKR 292.48469
LRD 185.349887
LSL 18.110315
LTL 2.95274
LVL 0.60489
LYD 4.864974
MAD 9.921046
MDL 18.032417
MGA 4650.000282
MKD 58.225919
MMK 3247.960992
MNT 3397.999914
MOP 8.017648
MRU 39.892388
MUR 47.040276
MVR 15.460279
MWK 1735.000036
MXN 20.559096
MYR 4.437502
MZN 63.924979
NAD 18.109847
NGN 1674.960316
NIO 36.770044
NOK 11.14459
NPR 135.035137
NZD 1.700901
OMR 0.385034
PAB 1.000724
PEN 3.80195
PGK 4.01525
PHP 58.717986
PKR 278.050169
PLN 4.11199
PYG 7810.118723
QAR 3.64075
RON 4.712015
RSD 110.791
RUB 98.501411
RWF 1366
SAR 3.757516
SBD 8.351256
SCR 13.592518
SDG 601.502627
SEK 10.992904
SGD 1.343115
SHP 0.786733
SLE 22.798929
SLL 20969.503383
SOS 571.496143
SRD 35.280196
STD 20697.981008
SVC 8.756103
SYP 2512.529879
SZL 18.109698
THB 34.950218
TJS 10.662352
TMT 3.5
TND 3.147502
TOP 2.342103
TRY 34.354603
TTD 6.800373
TWD 32.471007
TZS 2659.999428
UAH 41.343769
UGX 3672.521001
UYU 42.190719
UZS 12814.999935
VES 44.87156
VND 25345
VUV 118.721963
WST 2.801353
XAF 617.092513
XAG 0.032717
XAU 0.000387
XCD 2.70255
XDR 0.753908
XOF 616.498844
XPF 112.650011
YER 249.775008
ZAR 18.24885
ZMK 9001.198545
ZMW 27.374927
ZWL 321.999592
  • RBGPF

    -0.8500

    59.34

    -1.43%

  • RYCEF

    -0.0500

    7.11

    -0.7%

  • CMSC

    0.1520

    24.692

    +0.62%

  • SCS

    -0.1000

    13.57

    -0.74%

  • RIO

    -0.4310

    60.769

    -0.71%

  • BTI

    0.0750

    35.315

    +0.21%

  • NGG

    -0.9500

    61.95

    -1.53%

  • GSK

    -0.2700

    35.25

    -0.77%

  • RELX

    -0.3950

    46.195

    -0.86%

  • AZN

    -0.0600

    65.13

    -0.09%

  • BP

    0.4800

    28.64

    +1.68%

  • BCC

    2.8500

    143.98

    +1.98%

  • JRI

    -0.0050

    13.215

    -0.04%

  • CMSD

    0.0750

    24.825

    +0.3%

  • VOD

    0.2950

    8.765

    +3.37%

  • BCE

    -0.4350

    27.255

    -1.6%

'Solid' Zverez eases past Rublev as Alcaraz falters against Ruud
'Solid' Zverez eases past Rublev as Alcaraz falters against Ruud / Photo: © AFP

'Solid' Zverez eases past Rublev as Alcaraz falters against Ruud

Alexander Zverev opened his campaign at the ATP Finals in Turin on Monday evening by dispatching Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-4 in their round-robin opener.

Text size:

In the afternoon match, Casper Ruud romped through the opening set before fighting back from 5-2 behind in the second to beat an out-sorts Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 7-5.

Germany's Zverev had last faced Russian Rublev at the same stage of the finals in 2023 and won by the same score.

Zverev, a two-time winner of this event in 2018 and 2021, moved to second in the John Newcombe group, behind Norway's Ruud.

The 27-year-old Zverev, the recent winner of the Paris Masters 1000, has climbed back to No.2 in the world this season. After an injury-hit 2022 season he had briefly dropped out of the top 25 in 2023.

"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 held to love in his first three service games. He won a 13th straight point on serve to open the crucial seventh game, but Zverev then won the next four to break to 15.

Zverev did not allow a break point against his serve all match and converted immediately both times he had the chance.

"I thought it was a very solid match from my end," said Zverev.

"Andrey is an incredible player, but everyone who plays here is an unbelievable player.

"Against anyone here, you have to play your best to have a chance, you have to be solid, mentally strong. I feel like I did that today, I felt like I used my chances quite well and I'm obviously happy with this win."

- Ailing Alcaraz beaten -

Earlier Alcaraz, the world number three got off to a shaky start to his maiden ATP Finals, making 34 unforced errors in an uncharacteristically errant display.

"I'm tired. I'm tired mentally," said Alcaraz, who won the French Open and Wimbledon titles earlier this year.

"Obviously a lot of matches, really tight schedule, really demanding year with not too many days off, not too many periods for you could rest.

"Some players deal with it better than others."

Alcaraz said he had struggled with sickness and adapting to the indoor surface.

"A few days before coming here, I got sick at home," said the Spaniard.

"I don't like to sound like I'm making excuses but today I didn't feel well on court.

"It doesn't matter the times I beat Casper. I have no experience playing on indoor courts. I have to be better on this part of the year that we play on indoor courts."

It was Ruud's first victory over 21-year-old Alcaraz in their five career meetings.

"I knew he was dealing with a bit of a cold. I saw him sniffling in the back area and with a tissue for his nose, so that's a sign that maybe physically he won't be necessarily at 100 percent. Of course, that is sad, and not good for him, but at the same time it is part of the game."

The Norwegian had suffered seven defeats in his eight matches coming into this tournament.

"This part of the season has not been good for me but hopefully I've saved some wins for this week and I've started well," said Ruud, the 2022 finals runner-up

W.Knight--TFWP