NOS Sport••Amended
Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud have reached the semi-finals of the ATP Finals in Turin. The German number two in the world rankings defeated Carlos Alcaraz (ATP-3) in straight sets: 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Despite his defeat, the Spaniard was still allowed to hope, but saw his fate decided by Casper Ruud. The Norwegian needed a set win against Andrei Rublev to join the semi-finalists and won the match 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
Ruud will compete for a place in the final on Saturday with global number one Jannik Sinner. Zverev, who has already won the year-end tournament twice, will face the American Taylor Fritz,
High level
Zverev had already won his previous two group matches, against Rublev and Ruud, convincingly. Still, he still needed a set win to be sure of the semi-finals.
In the first set he had plenty of opportunities to break the Spaniard’s serve. Alcaraz, who complained of illness and a cold earlier this tournament, cleared them all up. The strong-serving Zverev squandered a chance to finish at 6-5, but he still won the set in the tiebreak: 7-5.
With the semi-final in his pocket, the German immediately took action and made a break in the opening game. Alcaraz looked fitter than earlier in the tournament and showed an excellent level, yet he was no match for the strong Zverev in the second set.
Ruud, losing finalist in 2022, already won the loot after one set. He then lost his sharpness for a moment and had to leave the second set to Rublev.
After a dominant third set, the Norwegian number seven in the world can prepare for a meeting with Sinner, an opponent who, according to Ruud, “has forgotten what it is like to lose this year”.
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