Major illness concerns as Carlos Alcaraz suffers shocking ATP Finals defeat

Carlos Alcaraz didn't have the best of the starts at the 2024 ATP Finals in Turin as Casper Ruud defeated him in a straight set with scores of 6-1, 7-5 in the round-robin stage. 

Despite entering the tournament with some struggles, Ruud showcased resilience and determination, responding well after a difficult period where he lost seven of his previous eight matches. Alcaraz, on the other hand, had an inconsistent performance.

The three-time Grand Slam finalist easily claimed the first set, breaking serve twice and denying all five break points he faced.

Alcaraz initially took control by building a 5-2 lead in the second set, but he faltered, losing five consecutive games and ultimately suffering his first-ever defeat to Ruud. Casper, who entered the match with a 0-4 record against Alcaraz, displayed remarkable resilience in the face of recent challenges, holding his ground and securing a well-deserved victory.

Carlos Alcaraz takes on the disappointing loss

Carlos Alcaraz expressed concerns about his health leading up to the event, as he was seen wearing a nose strip during a practice session. He mentioned that discussing such matters is not something he prefers, as it may come off as making excuses.

Alcaraz shared that before arriving in Turin, he was feeling unwell at home. He noted that stomach issues significantly impacted his performance and contributed to his discomfort during the match.

“I don’t like talking about things like this because it sounds like an excuse and I don’t want to take anything away from what Casper did to win the match,” began Alcaraz.

“Before coming here, I was unwell at home. When I got to Turin, the practice was going well; I could handle long rallies, competing and playing," Alcaraz said.

"And I hoped things would get better as the days went by. I don’t know if it was because of the nerves of the first match, but I didn’t feel completely well. My stomach limited my game a lot and made me feel uncomfortable." Alcaraz added.

"I could’ve done better. I’m not going to feel good in every match I play throughout the year, but it really limited me in terms of my recovery.”

Casper Rudd's take on the fixture 

Ruud acknowledged that he was aware Alcaraz was dealing with a cold, and he reflected on the complexities of knowing this about an opponent. 

Casper mentioned that he noticed Carlos seemed to be feeling unwell, often seen with tissues as he dealt with sniffles nearby. Casper recognized that Carlos might not be at his best physically, which he felt was unfortunate both for Carlos and the competition.

“I kind of knew he was maybe dealing with a bit of a cold. I saw him sniffling around in the area here, always with a tissue for his nose," Casper said.

“That’s a sign that maybe physically he won’t be necessarily at 100%. Of course, that’s sad and not good for him. But it’s also part of the game. I knew it coming in. I tried to make him play rallies and do my best. It’s not easy. When you know someone isn’t 100%, you get stressed," Casper added.

 “I don’t know what I expected. I just wanted to play a good match. I tried my best from the first to the last point. Everyone knows how fantastic Carlos is as a player and a person. I never beat him before. So I’m very happy to beat him at least one time," Casper explained.