Carlos Alcaraz was not happy with how the first set of his ATP Finals match against Alexander Zverev ended.
The Spaniard fought valiantly but Alexander Zverev produced an excellent performance to stay unbeaten at the season-ending championships in Turin.
There was plenty of excitement and anticipation around the final round robin match of the John Newcombe group at the ATP Finals.
Alcaraz needed to win to have a chance of reaching the semi-finals, but the World number two continued his fine form and claimed a 7-6(5), 6-4 win, to send the Spaniard home.
Carlos Alcaraz could not believe what he did at the end of the first set against Alexander Zverev at 2024 ATP Finals
In an evenly-contested first set, Carlos Alcaraz saved seven break points and both players held serve to reach the tiebreak.
Down a set point, Alcaraz proceeded to volley a low forehand while close to the net, which drifted long and gave Zverev the set.
Alcaraz was furious with his shot selection and while sitting courtside, Laura Robson had a great view of his reaction and told Sky Sports what she saw.
“I am still watching Carlos at the change of ends because he has spent the last 40 seconds in total disbelief that he played that as a volley. He is just shaking his head,” she said.
“He kind of threw his racket a bit, then he threw his towel, then he screamed and I just can’t believe he has decided to go for the hardest shot humanly possible after doing so well to get back in that tiebreak.
“He did so well on the return and then down the other end of the court Zverev was just smiling to his team. He can’t believe he made the shot. Just such a wide range of emotions. But what a set. It was so tense. The crowd didn’t know who to go for.”
Alexander Zverev maintains unbeaten run at ATP Finals
Zverev stretched his winning streak to eight matches with a straight sets victory over Alcaraz.
The German has reached the last four at the season-ending championships without a losing match, as did World number one Jannik Sinner.
Zverev came through a tense tiebreak to win set one, and needed to break Alcaraz just once in set two to claim the win.
Once again the German’s serving was incredibly solid, making 73% of his first serves. Zverev has still not had his serve broken in the entire tournament.
He continued to be proactive by finishing more points at the net, and controlled proceedings from the baseline for the vast majority of the contest.
Zverev has now beaten Alcaraz for the sixth time in 11 meetings and will face Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals of the ATP Finals.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
