Alexander Zverev kicked off his ATP Finals campaign in Turin on Monday with a convincing 6-4, 6-4 victory over Andrey Rublev in their round-robin opener. The win marked a repeat of their encounter at the same stage of last year’s finals, where Zverev triumphed with the same scoreline. Zverev's performance was solid, with no break points conceded on his serve throughout the match, and he capitalized on the opportunities presented to him.
Zverev, who has enjoyed a strong comeback this season after an injury-plagued 2022, now sits in second place in the John Newcombe group, just behind Casper Ruud. The German, who recently claimed the Paris Masters 1000 title, has surged back to World No. 2, a remarkable recovery after briefly falling out of the top 25 in 2023. Reflecting on his return to form, Zverev expressed his surprise at regaining his top-level play, noting his continued desire to improve.
In the afternoon match, Casper Ruud displayed resilience by recovering from a 5-2 deficit in the second set to defeat a struggling Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 7-5. Ruud had dominated the first set but faced a challenge in the second, with Alcaraz briefly threatening to force a third set. However, the Norwegian fought back, sealing the win with a strong finish to move to the top of the group.
Zverev, reflecting on his own performance, praised Rublev as a formidable opponent but acknowledged that success at this level requires playing one's best. “Against anyone here, you have to play your best to have a chance,” he said. Despite Rublev's strong service game, Zverev remained mentally strong and capitalized on the few break points he had, securing a well-earned win.
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