Key events
First set: Rublev 2-1 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Lots of corner to corner hitting, neatly inside the lines. Alcaraz is visibly puffing after (winning) a testing rally. Rublev fluffs a backhand to let him back in the game, then Alcaraz a forehand to return the favour.
First set: Rublev* 1-1 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz, in lavender shorts and lavender and turquoise T-shirt, starts with an ace. Rublev inches in front with an inside out whippy forehand. We have our first deuce after Alcraraz just overhits a backhand to finish a cracking rally, but he takes the game.
First set: Rublev 1-0 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Rublev is eager to get going, bouncing around in his trainers waiting for Alcaraz, and whistles through the opening game to 15 before chomping on a banana.
Coin toss: Rublev who elects to serve
And here they come, both players gunning for their first win of the tournament. Alcaraz, with pink nose strip stretched across the bridge of his nose, carrying his racket bag over both shoulders. Rublev with a rakish red headband. He wins the toss and chooses to serve.
Ws spot Rublev now in the tunnel, working through a practice shot with his physio, all messy mop of red hair.
Head to heads
2024: Rublev beat an injured Alcaraz in three sets in Madrid.
2023: Alcaraz defeated Rublev in straight sets during last year’s ATP World Tour finals.
Much will depend on whether Rublev can keep his head when things go wrong. As he said earlier this week: “When my reality doesn’t match my desire I start to panic.”
It hasn’t been a bad year for Alcaraz. He’s collected the French Open and Wimbledon titles, Indian Wells, Beijing, plus reaching (if losing) the Olympic final in Paris. He has, though, only pocketed one title since Wimbledon in mid July.
And there is Alcaraz himself, rolling around on a mat in headphones, flicking through a few downward dogs in a pair of lavender shorts.
News from the Ilie Natase group: Sinner sits on top, followed by Fritz, Medvedev and de Minaur – with all four still in contention.
Alcaraz update: he had an easy-going warm-up this morning, but is – apparently – raring to go.
Just getting some glorious pictures of Turin on a crisp winter’s day, the Po flowing with feeling. On screen, Tim Henman, Laura Robson and Gigi Salmon are raving about the facilities.
Thought Jake Paul turning to boxing was random? How about a pro-footballer dedicating himself to tennis. A lovely piece by Tumaini Carayol on Diego Forlán, formerly of Man United, Villarreal, Atlético Madrid and Inter.
Already this morning, the men’s doubles favourites Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo have clocked up a relatively straightforward win against Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden: 7-5, 6-3.
While we wait, you were probably wondering who had the best hair in men’s tennis?
Jannik Sinner wins the ‘best hair award’ at the ATP Finals in Turin
Jannik: “I have the best hair?”
Zverev: “I grew my hair for three years for this award and you’re giving it to him?” 😂😂😂
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 11, 2024
Preamble
Hello! We’re deep in the round-robin stages of the ATP finals – with Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev due on court about 1pm GMT. Alcaraz was struggling yesterday with illness during practise but the hints are that he’ll be bouncing around the Turin courts with help from another round of antibiotics, a good handful of Vicks and a nasal strip.
Alcaraz lost his first game of the tournament to Casper Ruud, an out of sorts performance, twice failing to hold serve in the opening six games and losing the first set in 36 minutes. Rublev might fancy his chances.
Elseswhere, Jannick Sinner, the top seed, beat Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 yesterday to pocket his second win of the tournamnet, while Daniil Medvedev won his first indoor match of the year, beating Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-4, after losing his opening match to Taylor Fritz.