Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. Today, we’ve got some exciting news from the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy. Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old Spanish tennis sensation, has shown incredible resilience by defeating Andrey Rublev despite being ill.
Alcaraz, who is currently ranked third in the world, faced a tough match against Rublev. The eighth seed from Russia put up a strong fight, but Alcaraz managed to secure the win with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (10-8). This victory came after Alcaraz had cut short his practice session on Tuesday due to a chest complaint[1].
During the match, Alcaraz sported a pink nasal strip to help with his breathing. He won four consecutive games to take the first set in just 37 minutes with a double break of serve. The second set was even more dramatic, as Alcaraz saved two set points before clinching victory in an epic tie-break[1].
It’s worth noting that Alcaraz was out of sorts when he lost his first match in Turin on Monday to Norwegian Casper Ruud. However, his movement was much sharper in this match, especially when he came from 40-15 down to break for a 4-3 lead in the opening set after Rublev fluffed a straightforward forehand at deuce[1].
Alcaraz’s win is significant not only because of his illness but also because of his gesture of support for his compatriots affected by recent floods. He scribbled ‘Valencia’ on the TV monitor after victory, showing solidarity with those impacted by the floods[1].
The French Open and Wimbledon champion will face Alexander Zverev next in his final match of the round-robin group stage. This match is set to be an exciting one, as Zverev is currently ranked second in the world and has already won his opening match against Rublev[2].
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