Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 7-6 Andrey Rublev: 2024 Nitto ATP finals result ...
Updated 13/11/2024 at 14:50 GMT
14:48
GAME, SET AND MATCH! – ALCARAZ 6-3 7-6 RUBLEV
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Carlos Alcaraz may be feeling slightly under the weather but there were spells of magic here as he kept his ATP finals hopes alive with a straight sets success over Rublev.
The Spaniard prevails in an epic tie-break by a 10-8 scoreline, saving two set points to edge through after one hour and 35 minutes.
There was real drama at the end.
Alcaraz butchered a sitter of a volley into the net to cough up the SP at 8-7, but somehow found the line with a forehand that saw Andrey sink to his knees.
A clutch serve then earned Carlitos match point and from there Rublev caved.
Image credit: Getty Images
14:44
TIE-BREAK LATEST! – ALCARAZ 6-6 RUBLEV
Alcaraz wins a scintillating point to lead 5-3 in the breaker, but double faults to hand Andrey a back in.
The Russian finds his first serve to earn SP but Alcaraz nails a plus-one forehand to level and force the second change of ends.
14:39
TIE-BREAK LATEST! – ALCARAZ 4-2 RUBLEV
Alcaraz kicks off the breaker with a sweeping crosscourt forehand winner and then earns the first mini break with a rasping return to feet that rushes the error out of his opponent.
The Spaniard takes care of his serve with an unreturnable and a clinical plus-one but drags a backhand into the net to give Andrey a slither of hope heading into the change of ends.
We are heading into the first tie-break of the tournament in the singles as Rublev clouts down a seventh ace on his way to a fourth straight love hold!
Alcaraz guarantees himself the minimum of a tie break with a routine game to 15, pulling off a ridiculous drop volley on the run to leave the crowd gasping in delight.
Andrey quickly quashes Alcaraz’s hopes of a quick conclusion at this juncture as he surges through a third clean hold on the spin to make it 14 points on the spin on serve.
All square and anyone's set....
Indecision costs Rublev a chance to apply some heat as he unloads a blistering forehand that Alcaraz claws back on the stretch. It’s there for the drive volley, but Andrey misjudges it, scrambles back and slaps an awkward, hopeful forehand way off the island.
It finishes the game to 15 for the Spaniard who is now up to nine aces today and hoping the scoreboard pressure will get to the Russian again.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/11/13/4061408-82365808-2560-1440.jpg)
Image credit: Getty Images
It’s another blink and you’ll miss it clean hold from Rublev as he guns the first serve, landing a sixth ace before a classy drive volley seals it with aplomb.
Rublev tries to develop some momentum on the back of that love hold and a fabulous crosscourt forehand followed by a belting backhand down the line give him a half chance at 30-30.
Alcaraz looks unfazed and duly plants down an eighth ace and a powerhouse first serve to ease out of danger and retain the scoreboard advantage at the business end of the set.
Andrey finds some clutch serves, including his fifth of the match to notch up his first clean hold of the contest so far.
Image credit: Getty Images
It’s more frustration for Andrey as Alcaraz roars back from 0-30 to dig out the hold with four points on the spin.
The No.8 seed unloaded a special inside-out forehand to crank up the heat but blew a big opening at 15-30 when he got to a dropper but dragged his pick-up into the net.
Alcaraz made him pay for the lapse and the Spaniard maintains the advantage on the board.
Alcaraz leans down to his knees and laughs.
It follows a sensational exchange where he somehow stayed alive in a one-sided rally, hoisting up a quite brilliant defensive lob and then butchering a routine, mid-court backhand into the net.
Rublev is all business and jabs an improvised backhand bunt down the line on his way to a 40-15 lead.
However, Alcaraz comes rushing back, re-directing a backhand winner down the line and then curving a forehand banana pass down the line following some electric defensive work.
It could be the catalyst for Rublev to crumble, but this time he stands tall on serve, finding the first delivery and getting out of dodge from deuce.
Game of the match? Quite possibly.
Alcaraz shrugs off a double fault by following up a delicious, low slice with a wonderful crosscourt forehand.
The Spaniard then deploys one of those bewitching crosscourt drop shots to leave Rublev scampering in vain and it’s a routine game to 15 from there that keeps his nose in front.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/11/13/4061404-82365728-2560-1440.jpg)
Rublev clatters down a trio of aces and boy does he need them as the rest of his game is a touch fragile right now.
Alcaraz finds a beauty of a dropper to open and then makes deuce with a rasping return to feet, but Andrey ducks out of danger from there, injecting serious pace into a forehand exchange to get the error and steady the ship.
Alcaraz lands aces 4,5 and 6 to romp through a clean hold by barely breaking sweat.
He’s won 16 of the last 20 points now. Rublev needs to stop the rot – and fast.
13:49
SET! - ALCARAZ 6-3 RUBLEV
There’s plenty of fist-pumping between Alcaraz and his camp as he looks to deject Andrey even further.
The Russian again capitulates from a leading position, letting a 30-0 lead drift and then facing up to set point when Alcaraz turns defence into attack with a crunching crosscourt forehand winner.
Rublev should stave it off after landing a huge serve, but he snatches at a forehand and thrashes it long to hand Alcaraz the opener in 37 minutes.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/10/25/4055066-82238968-2560-1440.jpg)
Image credit: Getty Images
Rublev hammers the ball into the stand and shakes his head.
It’s a common feature of his game, particularly against top-class opposition. The stress gets to him at key moments and the wobble kicks in.
He knows he’s let Alcaraz off the hook late in this set, allowing the break from a dominant position and then squandering a 0-30 lead to enable Carlitos to consolidate from a tricky situation.
13:41
BREAK! – ALCARAZ 4-3 RUBLEV
Boom! It’s Carlos Alcaraz who makes the breakthrough.
Andrey will be feeling rather glum after flittering away a 40-15 lead to feel pressure at deuce.
The Russian should take charge with a plus-one forehand to the corner, but he’s distracted by Alcaraz’s decision to stay in place for the wrong-footer, leading him to fire just wide.
It offers up a break point, with Alcaraz delivering a belting return of serve before sizzling a crushing forehand down the line to make it count.
So, Alcaraz is sick, you say? Are you sure?
It doesn’t seem like it here as the forehand fires on all cylinders, tearing the Rublev defence to pieces and arrowing a belting winner down the line.
It’s a top-class service game overall from the Spaniard who polishes off a love hold with a delightful drop-shot, volley put-away combo.
