Dubai Telegraph - 'Solid' Zverez eases past Rublev as Alcaraz falters against Ruud

EUR -
AED 3.834305
AFN 70.98687
ALL 97.554921
AMD 407.276164
ANG 1.881775
AOA 952.057564
ARS 1050.919957
AUD 1.616743
AWG 1.879062
AZN 1.774051
BAM 1.948628
BBD 2.108141
BDT 124.770808
BGN 1.954431
BHD 0.393522
BIF 3023.20119
BMD 1.043923
BND 1.407049
BOB 7.241626
BRL 6.05308
BSD 1.044157
BTN 88.028118
BWP 14.264051
BYN 3.416925
BYR 20460.892032
BZD 2.104694
CAD 1.475304
CDF 2996.059619
CHF 0.927849
CLF 0.036932
CLP 1019.08511
CNY 7.557742
CNH 7.587447
COP 4577.34165
CRC 532.141566
CUC 1.043923
CUP 27.663961
CVE 110.081958
CZK 25.302818
DJF 185.526257
DKK 7.459389
DOP 63.05541
DZD 139.534968
EGP 51.795229
ERN 15.658846
ETB 128.871943
FJD 2.383433
FKP 0.823986
GBP 0.833312
GEL 2.850171
GGP 0.823986
GHS 16.381352
GIP 0.823986
GMD 74.118765
GNF 9009.056258
GTQ 8.062328
GYD 218.454396
HKD 8.124775
HNL 26.332988
HRK 7.446574
HTG 137.045633
HUF 409.823057
IDR 16578.124592
ILS 3.803586
IMP 0.823986
INR 88.008299
IQD 1368.061174
IRR 43936.102444
ISK 145.073671
JEP 0.823986
JMD 165.710139
JOD 0.740559
JPY 161.116967
KES 135.188684
KGS 90.601454
KHR 4227.888832
KMF 489.547318
KPW 939.530361
KRW 1469.525299
KWD 0.321299
KYD 0.870131
KZT 521.371204
LAK 22929.769842
LBP 93483.310037
LKR 303.831812
LRD 187.723485
LSL 18.832063
LTL 3.082433
LVL 0.631459
LYD 5.110026
MAD 10.474199
MDL 19.087484
MGA 4884.515948
MKD 61.49218
MMK 3390.621387
MNT 3547.250512
MOP 8.367625
MRU 41.668174
MUR 48.771754
MVR 16.128446
MWK 1812.250306
MXN 21.567712
MYR 4.662682
MZN 66.703187
NAD 18.832419
NGN 1757.05801
NIO 38.374893
NOK 11.640541
NPR 140.845347
NZD 1.797933
OMR 0.401896
PAB 1.044177
PEN 3.964829
PGK 4.144439
PHP 61.595113
PKR 290.158659
PLN 4.309318
PYG 8135.060637
QAR 3.800511
RON 4.977005
RSD 116.964264
RUB 108.588838
RWF 1431.218519
SAR 3.920319
SBD 8.759131
SCR 14.201375
SDG 627.91969
SEK 11.562251
SGD 1.409792
SHP 0.823986
SLE 23.684764
SLL 21890.549611
SOS 596.60465
SRD 37.052985
STD 21607.099729
SVC 9.136376
SYP 2622.887865
SZL 18.832093
THB 36.264319
TJS 11.130563
TMT 3.66417
TND 3.310798
TOP 2.444973
TRY 36.131874
TTD 7.092035
TWD 33.783959
TZS 2766.396264
UAH 43.331029
UGX 3868.761844
USD 1.043923
UYU 44.506204
UZS 13393.532701
VES 48.623811
VND 26536.524258
VUV 123.936644
WST 2.914206
XAF 653.564217
XAG 0.034693
XAU 0.0004
XCD 2.821254
XDR 0.798661
XOF 655.068644
XPF 119.331742
YER 260.902418
ZAR 18.930709
ZMK 9396.565061
ZMW 28.79214
ZWL 336.1428
  • RBGPF

    0.8100

    61

    +1.33%

  • SCS

    0.4500

    13.72

    +3.28%

  • BCC

    8.7200

    152.5

    +5.72%

  • GSK

    0.1900

    34.15

    +0.56%

  • RYCEF

    -0.0300

    6.77

    -0.44%

  • NGG

    0.1500

    63.26

    +0.24%

  • JRI

    0.1600

    13.37

    +1.2%

  • CMSD

    0.1200

    24.58

    +0.49%

  • CMSC

    0.0578

    24.73

    +0.23%

  • RIO

    0.6300

    62.98

    +1%

  • RELX

    -0.1800

    46.57

    -0.39%

  • BCE

    0.2500

    27.02

    +0.93%

  • AZN

    0.7700

    66.4

    +1.16%

  • BTI

    -0.0500

    37.33

    -0.13%

  • BP

    -0.4000

    29.32

    -1.36%

  • VOD

    0.1800

    8.91

    +2.02%

'Solid' Zverez eases past Rublev as Alcaraz falters against Ruud
'Solid' Zverez eases past Rublev as Alcaraz falters against Ruud / Photo: Marco BERTORELLO - 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

R.El-Zarouni--DT