Carlos Alcaraz Loses ATP Finals Opener to Ruud

Carlos Alcaraz faced a surprising defeat against Casper Ruud, losing 6-1, 7-5 in his opening match of the ATP Finals, marking Ruud's first victory over Alcaraz in five encounters. The loss jeopardizes Alcaraz's chances of advancing from the round-robin stage, requiring him to win his remaining matches to avoid elimination. Despite winning two Grand Slam titles this year, Alcaraz has struggled recently, dropping to No. 3 in the rankings after disappointing performances at the Paris Masters. Ruud capitalized on Alcaraz's errors, saving break points early and dominating the first set, while Alcaraz rallied to 5-2 in the second set before faltering. Ruud expressed satisfaction with his performance, acknowledging the challenge posed by Alcaraz's usual level of play. The ATP Finals continue with Alexander Zverev facing Andrey Rublev later in the day.