Zverev remains with one foot in SF | Nitto ATP Finals

The most forceful player so far at the Nitto ATP Finals 2024 is called Alexander Zverev. The German has won his two duels so far in Turin with maximum authority: in straight sets and without facing break points on serve. First he went against Andrey Rublev and now against Casper Ruud to stay with one foot in the semifinals.

Although they are not mathematically classified, it will be very difficult to prevent them from passing the group stage. Especially considering his incredible level that helped him beat Ruud this Wednesday with sets of 7-6(3), 6-3 in one hour and 26 minutes.

His serve was so intractable that only one service game reached 40/40, the second in the match in which, despite a certain parity, he hit four winners, including an ace. From then on he did not have the slightest anxiety on serve, a blow with which he connected eleven aces (barely a double fault) and 87% of points won with the first (41 of 47).

The No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings has played 21 service games so far this week, and has won them all without facing break points. In addition, he has been 100% effective in breaking points against the rest during the week: two of two against Rublev and one of one against Ruud, whom he broke at 4-3 in the 2nd set. Enough merits, in any case, to now add 68 victories in the season, the most for any player in 2024.

His new record is 16-9 at the Nitto ATP Finals, an event in which he is participating for the seventh time. “That means I’m old,” Zverev joked about his long experience in the contest he has won twice. “But I don’t feel old yet. I hope to have another solid 10 years ahead of me, but I think there is a group of young people. There has been a bit of a change in tennis this year and I think it’s a good thing. They are new and exciting players already. “Everyone loves to see them.”

On Friday he will have to validate his level against one of those players, the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, whom he beat a year ago in this event before being eliminated in the group stage. Ruud, for his part, needs to beat Rublev so as not to depend on anyone else.

“It was a good game. I think we both played good tennis,” Zverev said. “I am happy with the victory. Maybe it was even better than my first match, although the first one was pretty good too. “I’m looking forward to playing with Carlos on Friday and I hope there are more games on the weekend.”