Carlos Alcaraz's Debut at the ATP Finals Ends in Defeat Against Casper Ruud

Alcaraz Falls in Straight Sets

World number one Carlos Alcaraz suffered a disappointing debut at the ATP Finals on Sunday, losing in straight sets to Casper Ruud. The Norwegian triumphed 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 in Turin, Italy, to hand Alcaraz his first defeat since September.

Alcaraz, who became the youngest world number one in ATP history earlier this year, had been in impressive form coming into the tournament. However, he was unable to find his best level against Ruud, who played a tactically astute match.

Ruud's Strategic Victory

Ruud's victory was built on a solid foundation of intelligent shot selection and aggressive baseline play. He targeted Alcaraz's backhand with deep, heavy groundstrokes, forcing the Spaniard to play defensively.

Ruud also varied his pace and spin, keeping Alcaraz guessing and preventing him from settling into a rhythm. The Norwegian's serve was also impressive, helping him to win 72% of his first-serve points.

Alcaraz's Missed Opportunities

Alcaraz had opportunities to break Ruud's serve in both sets, but he failed to convert them. In the first set, he missed a set point at 5-4, and in the second set, he was unable to take advantage of a break point at 3-3.

The Spaniard also struggled with his own serve, hitting seven double faults during the match. These unforced errors proved costly, as they gave Ruud free points and allowed him to build momentum.

Looking Ahead

Despite the defeat, Alcaraz remains the favorite to win the ATP Finals. He is still in contention to qualify for the semifinals, and he will be looking to bounce back in his next match against Andrey Rublev on Tuesday.

Ruud's victory, meanwhile, has boosted his hopes of reaching the last four. The Norwegian will face Rafael Nadal in his next match, and a win would put him in a strong position to qualify for the semifinals.