ATP: Carlos Alcaraz defeats Andrey Rublev

Carlos Alcaraz kept his chances of advancing to the semifinals of the Nitto ATP Finals alive on Wednesday, recovering from illness to defeat Andrey Rublev with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (8).

This marked Alcaraz’s first victory of the week, improving his record to 1-1 in the John Newcombe Group. “I really surprised myself with how I played from the baseline and with my serve today,” Alcaraz said on the court.

“I managed to stay calm and focused on my game, trying to put aside how I was feeling and other distractions.” Despite wearing a bright pink sinus strip on his nose due to chest tightness and breathing difficulties—factors that contributed to a prior loss against Casper Ruud—Alcaraz showcased resilience as he took down the No. 8 seed in one hour and 35 minutes on Center Court.

Rublev’s defeat leaves him at 0-2 in round-robin play, putting him on the verge of elimination from semifinal contention. Ruud, the sixth seed, could qualify for the semis if he wins against No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev in the day’s second match. If Ruud were to win, it would result in Rublev’s elimination and set up a clash between Alcaraz and Zverev for the second semifinal spot, while a Zverev victory would extend the qualifying race to the final round of matches on Friday.

In their previous two meetings, Alcaraz and Rublev had each claimed a win, with Rublev having upset Alcaraz in Madrid earlier this year. This season has been tumultuous for Rublev, who has struggled to make an impact in Grand Slam tournaments and faced suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct earlier this year.

Conversely, Alcaraz has experienced significant success, capturing consecutive major titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and earning a silver medal at the Olympics in Paris.

Despite some recent struggles, including early exits in Shanghai and Paris, Alcaraz rebounded after a disappointing performance against Ruud, where he only managed to win one game in the first set. “In my last match, I was unable to execute any good drop shots, which is a vital part of my game,” Alcaraz noted. However, he found his footing early against Rublev, maintaining his serve and putting pressure on the return.

Rublev faltered in the seventh game, allowing Alcaraz to break and secure the opening set with momentum on his side. The first set saw Alcaraz excel with 10 winners against just five unforced errors. The second set proved to be a tougher battle, with both players holding serve until it reached a tiebreak. Although Rublev managed to carry the set to a tiebreak, he could not capitalize on his opportunities.

Alcaraz, who initially led with a mini-break, saved set points before ultimately closing out the match on his second match point with a precise forehand return. With this victory, Alcaraz remains in contention for his first title in Turin.