Can Carlos Alcaraz end Spain's 26-year wait for an ATP Finals champion ?

Carlos Alcaraz could become the third Spaniard to win ATP Finals.

The ATP Finals 2024 will see Carlos Alcaraz chasing history for Spain. He is seeking to become the first Spaniard since Àlex Corretja in 1998 to win the singles title in the event. Alcaraz could become the third Spaniard overall after Manuel Orantes in 1976 and Corretja to clinch the season ending championship. The 2024 season marks Alcaraz’s second consecutive appearance in the tournament.

The world No #3 is also looking to be the first Spaniard since Rafael Nadal in 2013 to reach the summit clash of the season ending event. Nadal had reached the finals in 2010, 2013 but lost to Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic respectively. This season Jannik Sinner leads the attack as Alcaraz could bring an end to his nation’s long wait for an ATP Finals champion.

Alcaraz had reached the semi-finals last season and lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets. He had started his campaign with a loss against Alexander Zverev but was back in contention after securing wins against Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev. This time Alcaraz is pitted against Zverev, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev.

Zverev and Alcaraz are hoping to qualify from the John Newcombe group. The hopes are in favour for Alcaraz to finish on top of the group but the German has much more experience in the event.

Also Read: Jannik Sinner aiming to be first-ever Italian to be crowned ATP Finals champion

Carlos Alcaraz seen suffering from cold during opening match defeat in ATP Finals 2024

The first match of the John Newcombe group saw Alcaraz take on Ruud. It was the fifth meeting between the two as Ruud registered his first win over Alcaraz. The Norwegian beat Alcaraz 6-1, 7-5 in an hour and 25 minutes. The 21-year-old was not at his best as his physical condition seemed out of place. He hit 34 unforced errors and was broken four times in the match.

Alcaraz was seen wiping his nose constantly during the breaks. Ruud also addressed the health concerns of his opponent during the post match interview. He admitted to having seen Alcaraz struggle on the court and stated that the cold had affected his performance during the match. Fans will hope that the Spaniard recovers soon to keep his semi-final hopes up.

Carlos Alcaraz looks like he’s still fighting a bit of a cold in Turin. 🤧 pic.twitter.com/JGlkNP8U2R

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 11, 2024

The Olympic silver medallist had not spoken about his health condition after arriving in Turin as fans had spotted him covering his nose with a handkerchief even during the customary photoshoot. Alcaraz will not be counting himself out of contention for the title as even last season he had begun with a loss but still made it to the semi-finals. He will need to stay fit in his upcoming matches against Zverev and Rublev.

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