Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. I’m always excited to share the latest updates from the world of tennis, and today I’ve got some juicy stuff for you. Let’s dive into what happened at the ATP Finals in Turin, where Carlos Alcaraz faced off against Casper Ruud.
What Went Wrong for Alcaraz?
Carlos Alcaraz, the world’s no. 3 player, recently suffered a loss in his first match at the ATP Finals against Casper Ruud. The match ended with a score of 6-1, 7-5 in favor of Ruud, lasting just an hour and 25 minutes. Alcaraz struggled with stomach issues, which significantly impacted his performance. Despite feeling better during practice sessions in Turin, he couldn’t compete at his best in the opening match.
Alcaraz acknowledged his physical issues, saying, “I got sick before coming to Turin. My first training sessions went well, and I felt better despite the illness. I sensed I could compete and endure long rallies. I’m not sure what happened today; maybe it was the nerves of playing the first match, but I did not feel well. The stomach issues made me suffer in the rallies, and I could not recover appropriately between the points.”
The Match Analysis
Let’s break down what happened during the match:
- First Set: Alcaraz had a terrible start, spraying too many errors before raising his level in set number two. However, he still struggled with consistency and ultimately lost the first set 6-1.
- Second Set: Alcaraz raised his level significantly in the second set but couldn’t sustain it. Despite landing 25 winners, he also sprayed 26 loose shots, missing equally from both wings. Ruud outplayed him behind both first and second serves, earning his first victory over Alcaraz.
- Break Points: Ruud played against three break points in the fifth game of the second set and erased them with winners before holding for 4-1. Alcaraz wasted his opportunities and lost ground, playing more wayward shots that allowed Ruud to gain momentum.
What Went Wrong?
So what exactly went wrong for Alcaraz? Unlike at the Paris Masters, where he came better prepared by training at home on the exact surface, it didn’t help him against Ruud in Turin. Ruud outplayed his nemesis behind both serves, earning his first victory over a player who had previously prevented him from winning a Major and becoming world no. 1 two years ago.
Ruud avoided errors throughout the match, adding 16 winners and ten mistakes to his tally. On the other hand, Alcaraz landed 25 winners while spraying 26 loose shots, missing equally from both wings. The Spaniard finished the duel with 15 service winners but lost the edge from the baseline.
Struggles in the Opener
Alcaraz was off to a terrible start, generating two break points in the first game after Ruud’s massive forehand error. However, he missed a backhand on both attempts. Alcaraz grabbed the second game with a forehand winner before his rival closed it with an unreturned serve for a 2-1 lead.
Ruud played against three break points in the fifth game and erased them with winners before holding for 4-1. Carlos wasted his opportunities and lost ground, playing more wayward shots that allowed Ruud to gain momentum.
Looking Ahead
Despite this setback, Alcaraz remains hopeful about his chances in the tournament. He plans to recover and perform better against Alexander Zverev or Andrey Rublev on Wednesday. It will be interesting to see how he bounces back from this loss and what adjustments he makes for future matches.
If you want, you can check out the news where I found it here.
Yours truly,
Mia
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