ATP Finals 2023: Carlos Alcaraz takes on Andrey Rublev in do-or-die clash

Both lost their opening group stage match.

Two-time grand slam champion Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev head into their second round-robin match at ATP Finals 2023. They are at the bottom of the red group after losses against Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev respectively. Both need a win to keep their hopes alive in the 2023 edition of the Nitto ATP Finals.

Interestingly, world number one, Novak Djokovic, suffered a shock loss to Italy’s Jannik Sinner in green group. The tournament is offering several crunch matches with a few upsets on standby.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Andrey Rublev preview

The Red Group matches will return to the court on Wednesday (November 16th) at the Nitto ATP Finals, where Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev meet in the afternoon session. Their match-up gets underway at 2:30 PM local time, and they will be both looking for a maiden win to bolster their chances of going forward in the tournament. 

World No. 2 Alcaraz is making his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals. The Spaniard has won six tour-level titles this season, including two Masters titles and a Wimbledon Championships, denying Djokovic a perfect Grand Slam. He faltered at the Paris Masters, bowing out in the 2nd round against Roman Safiullin in straight sets. The youngster’s woes continues post his loss against Alexander Zverev in the round-robin game.

After winning the opening set (7-6), Alcaraz lost momentum completely losing the next two 6-3, 6-4 to cave into the German. 

In contrast, Andrey Rublev, has won two titles in the ongoing season and reached the semifinals of the Paris Masters and the finals at the Shanghai Masters. He triumphed at the Monte-Carlo Masters played in April. The Moscow native had his chances in the opening match at ATP Finals 2023 against compatriot Medvedev but failed to press home the advantage.

Rublev had a chance to break Medvedev’s serve in the latter’s last two service games of the set. But the fifth-seed failed to convert any of the seven break point opportunities, losing in straight sets, 4-6, 2-6. 

Head-to-head records 

When Carlos Alcaraz meets Andrey Rublev on Thursday’s afternoon session, it will be their maiden encounter on the ATP Tour and the year-ending event. 

Where and how to watch live streaming and TV broadcast of Carlos Alcaraz vs Andrey Rublev, ATP Finals 2023, clash in India?

Indian Tennis fans can tune in to the Carlos Alcaraz vs Andrey Rublev Nitto ATP Finals 2023 group stage encounter on Sony Ten 2 & Sony Ten 5 SD/HD channels. Live streaming option is on offer by the Sony LIV streaming service on their app/website.

Prediction 

Alcaraz will be looking to become the youngest player since Pete Sampras to win the ATP Finals. But his chances have been hobbled by a string of poor performances since losing to Daniil Medvedev at the US Open 2023 semifinals. 

Meanwhile, Andrey Rublev has enjoyed a late-season surge, reaching at least the semifinal stage of the last three tournaments he has played. Another advantage enjoyed by Rublev is that he has played at the Nitto ATP Finals on three occasions, with the best being reaching the semifinals in the previous edition. 

Both players have experience playing on the big stage, but Rublev may just come out on top as Alcaraz’s loss to Alexander Zverev and a below par season in the last two months might come into play.

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