Alcaraz given Ruud awakening with defeat in ATP finals opener
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Alcaraz given Ruud awakening with defeat in ATP finals opener

Afsah K

Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon champion and world number three, suffered a shock defeat to Casper Ruud in his opening match at the ATP Finals on Monday. The Norwegian, ranked seventh in the world, dominated the first set and rallied from behind in the second to secure a 6-1, 7-5 victory.

The defeat is a significant setback for Alcaraz’s hopes of winning the year-end title for the first time. The round-robin format of the eight-man event means he still has a chance to qualify for the semifinals, but he will need to win his remaining two group matches convincingly.

Ruud, who reached the championship match at the ATP Finals last year, capitalized on a lackluster performance from Alcaraz. The Spaniard struggled with his serve and made numerous unforced errors throughout the match.

“I think he did a really good job today,” Alcaraz said after the match. “But I talk about myself, I could just be better. I could play better.”

Ruud, who had lost all four of his previous meetings against Alcaraz, was delighted with his performance. “It’s a dream come true,” he said. “I’ve been working hard for this moment, and it’s amazing to get a win like this.”

The defeat is a reminder that Alcaraz is still a young player and that he is not invincible. He will need to learn from this experience and come back stronger in his next match.

The ATP Finals is the culmination of the tennis season. The top eight players in the world compete in a round-robin format, with the top two players from each group advancing to the semifinals. The winner of the tournament is crowned the world number one.

Alcaraz’s defeat to Ruud means that the race for the world number one ranking is now wide open. Novak Djokovic, who is currently ranked second in the world, is also competing at the ATP Finals and will be looking to capitalize on Alcaraz’s loss.

The ATP Finals will continue on Tuesday with the remaining group matches. Alcaraz will face Daniil Medvedev, while Ruud will face Stefanos Tsitsipas.