Ruud had never won against Carlos Alcaraz before. In the previous four matches, Ruud had only taken one set, but after the victory in the opening group stage match in Turin, the Norwegian revealed that Alcaraz was struggling with a cold or something similar.
It's sad and not good for him, but at the same time, it's part of the game. I knew about it and tried to get him to play long rallies, says Ruud to the organizer, according to the Norwegian news agency NTB.
Ruud reached the final in the 2022 ATP Finals and reached the semifinal in 2021, but has had a tough season since the semifinal in the French Championships in June. Before the Finals in Turin, the world number seven had lost six of his seven latest matches on the ATP tour.
It's definitely one of the best wins this season, says Ruud after the victory in Turin.
Favourite Alcaraz made a total of 34 unforced errors and lost a 5–2 lead to a 5–7 defeat in the second set. The loss makes it harder for Alcaraz to advance in the Finals. The two best in groups of four players go to the semifinal.
Earlier this year, the Spaniard won both the French Championships and Wimbledon, which means he has taken a total of four Grand Slam titles in his career.
