Carlos Alcaraz stumbled through his opening round defeat to Casper Ruud at the ATP Finals.
The Norwegian stunned the Wimbledon champion 6-1 in the first before recovering from a 5-2 deficit in the second to clinch his first career win over Carlos Alcaraz.
Marking his 50th win of the season too, Casper Ruud brought an impressive level to Turin after having only won three out of his last 12.
Victim of a late-season slump, Ruud eked his way into the final eight credit to a Barcelona title win in April and a run to the last four at Roland Garros.
Alcaraz admitted he was physically struggling with stomach cramps during the game after picking up an illness last week – it leaves his ATP Finals in peril, with his next match on Wednesday against Andrey Rublev.
Carlos Alcaraz issues message to Casper Ruud
While there was reason behind the sloppy performance from Alcaraz, it does come after an early exit in both Paris and Shanghai.
His form since the Olympics has been slightly patchy, with the title in Beijing an exception to a spate of shock losses.
Regardless and remaining classy, Alcaraz sent Ruud a congratulatory message on X within hours of the Norwegian’s impressive victory.
Alcaraz wrote: “Congratulations Casper Ruud on this afternoon’s victory! Now it’s time to focus on Wednesday and look to improve!”
Carlos Alcaraz is in need of a swift recovery
Alcaraz is looking for a quick turnaround as he sets his sights on winning his first ATP Finals title.
After a rocky start in Turin, his upcoming match against Rublev is a must-win, especially with the in-form Alexander Zverev waiting.
Alongside his push for the ATP Finals, Alcaraz also has his sights on the Davis Cup, where he’ll be leading the Spanish team in Malaga.
With Rafael Nadal set to retire after the tournament, Alcaraz will be motivated to peak in time to support his idol’s farewell, aiming to help extend the 22-time major champion’s final run.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
