Carlos Alcaraz kept his ATP Finals hopes alive on Wednesday with a thrilling 6-3, 7-6 (10/8) win over Andrey Rublev. The world number three showed strong form and bounced back after an earlier loss to Casper Ruud, lifting himself off the bottom of the John Newcombe Group standings.
Alcaraz’s journey to this win wasn’t easy. The Spanish star had been dealing with fatigue and illness leading up to the match, raising questions about his ability to compete. He even ended a practice session early on Tuesday, with his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, saying Alcaraz was having trouble breathing.
“I’m not at my best, to be honest,” Alcaraz admitted post-match. “Last week was tough on my health. Today, I just wanted to focus on the game and enjoy the match. In the first match, I felt I couldn’t entertain the fans or play my best tennis.”
The 2023 Wimbledon and French Open champion looked sharp in the first set, winning it in 38 minutes and breaking Rublev to take an early lead. Although the second set proved more challenging, Alcaraz thrilled the crowd with some fantastic shots, showing glimpses of his top form.
With this straight-sets victory, Alcaraz keeps his semifinal chances alive, while Rublev drops to last place in the group. If Ruud wins against Alexander Zverev in the late match, he will secure his spot in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, in Thursday’s match, world number one Jannik Sinner will advance to the last four with just one set win over Daniil Medvedev, aiming to top his group with three straight wins.
