First-ever ATP Finals match win for Alcaraz, Rublev knocked out

Carlos Alcaraz is still in with a shot of qualifying for the semi-finals after beating Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-2 at the ATP Finals.

Both men had lost their first round-robin matches in Turin so were seeking a resounding bounceback.

And it was the world No 2 who was in sparkling form, getting the job done in just unuder an hour and a quarter.

“It was a totally different match and level from me. This is the level I have to play if I want to give myself a chance in this amazing tournament,” Alcaraz said. “Yesterday was a good day for me in practice to find the level I needed to show today and I think I did pretty well. I am very happy with my level.”

Rublev: I got disappointed and couldn’t manage

Alcaraz got off to a flying start, dropping a single point on his first serve in the opening set and committing four unforced errors – and did not face a single break point throughout the match.

The Russian was left evidently frustrated and furious with himself – at one point striking his racquet against his leg repeatedly, violently enough to draw blood. As he left the court following his defeat, he looked both pale and tearful, suggesting he was feeling far from his best physically.

“Of course it’s not easy because you always want to finish in a good way. Sometimes, yeah, you get disappointed when it’s not happening,” said Rublev in his post-match press conference.

“Today happen this thing that I get disappointed and couldn’t manage.”

Alcaraz needed only one match point to finish the victory, and now has a personal-best ten Top 10 wins this season.

Rublev, meanwhile, continues an unwanted streak – he has now lost all four of his second round-robin matches at the ATP Finals.

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