Carlos Alcaraz fights through illness and a tough second set to beat Andrey Rublev, while Alexander Zverev beats Casper Ruud to keep semi-final hopes alive.

Carlos Alcaraz showed his resilience at the ATP Finals in Turin on Tuesday, overcoming both illness and Andrey Rublev to secure a 6-3 7-6 (10-8) victory, advancing to the final round of the group stage. Despite a chest complaint that had forced him to cut short his practice session earlier in the day, the 21-year-old Spaniard demonstrated his trademark composure under pressure, clinching the win in straight sets.

Sporting a pink nasal strip to aid his breathing, Alcaraz started the match with poise, breaking Rublev’s serve twice to take the first set in just 37 minutes. Alcaraz, who had struggled with his form in his opening match in Turin against Casper Ruud, looked far sharper as the match progressed. He continued his dominance in the second set, hitting 33 winners compared to just 14 from the Russian.

Despite his physical discomfort, Alcaraz stayed focused, displaying remarkable calmness from the baseline. “I surprised myself the way I played from the baseline. I was really calm,” Alcaraz reflected after the match. “I just focused on my game and what I have to do and forgot about not feeling well.”

The second set was a nail-biting affair. Rublev, who had lost his opening match to Alexander Zverev, held serve to force a tie-break. But Alcaraz’s resilience came through as he saved two set points before finally clinching the tie-break 10-8. The victory not only boosted Alcaraz’s confidence but also provided a touching gesture when he scribbled “Valencia” on a TV monitor, showing solidarity for those affected by recent floods in his home country.

Meanwhile, in the John Newcombe Group, Alexander Zverev secured his second victory of the tournament, defeating Norwegian Casper Ruud 7-6 (7-3) 6-3. The German second seed’s win leaves him in a strong position, with a chance to guarantee his semi-final berth if he beats Alcaraz in their final group match on Friday. Zverev’s dominant performance included a strong tie-break win in the opening set, followed by a composed second set where he proved too much for Ruud.

The tournament has been a rollercoaster for both players, but Zverev’s clinical win over Ruud demonstrated the form that has made him a perennial contender at the ATP Finals. With both Alcaraz and Zverev playing strong tennis despite challenges, the stage is set for an exciting showdown in their final group match.

For Rublev, however, it was another disappointing result at the ATP Finals, having now lost six consecutive straight-set matches at the event since reaching the semi-finals in 2022. The Russian will need to regroup ahead of his next match to avoid another early exit.

As the ATP Finals in Turin continue, all eyes will be on Friday’s encounter between Alcaraz and Zverev, which could determine who advances to the semi-finals in a thrilling climax to the group stage