Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. Today, we’re diving into the latest tennis news and making some picks for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
The ATP Finals are always an exciting event, with the best players in the world competing against each other. This year, we’ve got some thrilling matchups lined up for Friday, including Alexander Zverev vs. Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud vs. Andrey Rublev.
Zverev vs. Alcaraz
First up, we’ve got a showdown between Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz. This is their 11th match against each other, and the head-to-head series is tied at five wins apiece. However, both of their previous indoor hard-court contests have gone in favor of Zverev, who won 6-3, 6-3 at the 2021 Vienna event and 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4 last fall in Turin[1].
Alcaraz did beat Zverev in the French Open final this spring, but that was on clay. Zverev is known for his superior form on indoor courts and has been undefeated so far in Turin with victories over Rublev and Ruud. Alcaraz has struggled since winning Wimbledon and is 1-1 this week (lost to Ruud, beat Rublev).
Given these factors, it looks like Zverev will pocket another win and secure the top semifinal seed from this group.
Pick: Zverev in 3
Ruud vs. Rublev
Next up is Casper Ruud against Andrey Rublev. Ruud was the runner-up at this event in 2022 and is in position to make a return trip to the semis after his win over Alcaraz. However, a matchup with Rublev isn’t easy, despite the Russian’s 0-2 record. Rublev leads the head-to-head series 5-2, although both of Ruud’s wins have come in Turin[1].
While Ruud hasn’t played poorly this week, he faces an easier test against Rublev compared to Zverev and Alcaraz. The Norwegian is 3-9 in his last 12 matches dating back to the U.S. Open, but he should be able to get a win under his belt before he departs Turin.
Pick: Rublev in 3
These matches promise to be intense and closely contested. Whether you’re cheering for Zverev’s consistent form or Ruud’s determination, it’s going to be an exciting day of tennis.
If you want, you can check out the news where I found it here.
Yours truly,
Mia
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