Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his 2024 ATP Finals campaign with a decisive 6-3, 7-6 (10/8) victory over Andrey Rublev, strengthening his path to the tournament’s semi-finals. Currently ranked world number three, Alcaraz demonstrated both power and finesse, overcoming recent fitness concerns related to fatigue and breathing issues.

In a dominant opening set, Alcaraz broke Rublev in the seventh game, clinching the set after just 38 minutes. The second set, however, proved to be a tighter contest. Rublev battled fiercely and held two set points, yet Alcaraz’s skill under pressure allowed him to ultimately prevail in the tiebreak, sealing his victory in a hard-fought finish.

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This win moves Alcaraz up in the John Newcombe Group standings, putting him within reach of a potential semi-final berth, depending on the results of other group matches. Rublev, who has now faced his sixth consecutive ATP Finals defeat, drops to the bottom of the group. If Casper Ruud claims a win over Alexander Zverev in their upcoming match, he will join the semi-finalists alongside Alcaraz. In the parallel Ilie Nastase Group, Italy’s Jannik Sinner could secure his progression by winning a single set in his clash against Daniil Medvedev.