Alexander Zverev beat Casper Ruud 7-6, 6-3 in his second group stage game at the ATP Finals.
Zverev qualified for the ATP Finals in Turin as the number two seed, after one of his strongest seasons on the ATP Tour to date.
The German won two titles in 2024, taking home the Italian Open title earlier in the year before Zverev won the Paris Masters in November.
Zverev also reached the French Open Final losing out to Carlos Alcaraz, the second Grand Slam final of his career to date.
The German began his ATP Finals campaign strongly, with a straight sets win over Andrey Rublev, before he set his sights on Ruud.
Zverev beat the Norwegian in an entertaining affair, a performance that one tennis legend described as ‘incredible’.
Tim Henman says Alexander Zverev’s serve was ‘incredible’ in win over Casper Ruud
Speaking to Sky Sports after Zverev’s 7-6, 6-3 win over Ruud, former British number one Tim Henman was highly impressed by Ruud’s losing performance.
“I’m trying to think if Casper Ruud has ever played better and lost,” said Henman.
“He played some really impressive tennis and again when it’s that high a level you just can’t afford to blink, you can’t afford to make those couple of unforced errors and that’s kind of what happened at the end of that second set.
“He just played one loose service game, missed a couple of forehands and it proved very costly.”
The former world number four went on to say just how good Zverev was in his victory over Ruud.
“Zverev’s level was so high, his serving was just incredible, giving Ruud no opportunities,” he said.
“That’s what puts pressure on your own serve when your opponent is holding serve so comfortably.”
Henman did say that Ruud should stay upbeat despite defeat to the German world number two.
“I think from Ruud’s point of view he is going to be disappointed whenever he loses but I think there’s a lot of positives that he can take from this match into a critical match on Friday.”
Can Alexander Zverev win a third ATP Finals title?
Two wins in two matches have put Zverev in the driver’s seat, and he is now no doubt favorite to qualify for the semi-finals.
The ATP Finals are an event where the 27-year-old has excelled at in the past, having won the tournament twice before, in 2018 and 2021.
A third title at the event would put the German in some pretty elite company.
| ATP Finals | Name | Years won |
| 7 | Novak Djokovic | 2008, 12-15, 22-23 |
| 6 | Roger Federer | 2003-04, 06-07, 10-11 |
| 5 | Ivan Lendl | 1981-82, 85-87 |
| 5 | Pete Sampras | 1991, 94, 96-97, 99 |
| 4 | Ilie Nastase | 1971-73, 75 |
| 3 | John McEnroe | 1978, 83-84 |
| 3 | Boris Becker | 1988, 92, 95 |
| 3* | Alexander Zverev | 2018, 21, 23* |
A win for Zverev in Turin would put him level with fellow German Boris Becker at three titles, and cement his place in the top ten most successful players at the ATP Finals.
There is work to do before that dream becomes a reality, however, as Zverev would need to win against Alcaraz to confirm his spot in the last four.
The 27-year-old will be well aware that two wins does not confirm your spot in the semis having been knocked out with a 2-1 record in 2023.
Zverev will return to action against Alcaraz for a place in the semi-finals on Friday.
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