Will Carlos Alcaraz be fit to face Andrey Rublev in ATP Finals 2024?

Alcaraz and Rublev are set to renew their rivalry in Turin.

Carlos Alcaraz has fallen short of matching his standout 2023 season, which gave him six tour-level titles, including two Masters titles and the prestigious Wimbledon trophy. This season, the Spaniard has picked up two Grand Slam crowns and a Masters title. But in the second half of the season, reminiscent of last year, he appears to have lost his way after defending his Wimbledon title.

With a 10-5 win-loss record since early July, not including the Spaniard’s title run at Wimbledon, Alcaraz has lost in 50% of tour-level matches. He also lost the No. #2 ranking to Alexander Zverev recently after his premature exit from the Paris Masters.

The 21-year-old skipped the entire European leg of the ATP Calendar, withdrawing from the Barcelona Open and ATP Masters 1000s at Monte-Carlos and Rome with an arm injury.

Unexpected losses have been coupled with dominant wins for the Spaniard in 2024. A loss to Nicolas Jarry in Buenos Aires and a retirement in Rio de Janeiro was followed by a title run in Indian Wells. A couple of last-eight exits from Miami (lost to Grigor Dimitrov) and Madrid (lost to Andrey Rublev) were followed by bagging trophies at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

Also Read: Can Carlos Alcaraz end Spain’s 26-year wait for an ATP Finals champion?

Can Alcaraz prevail against Rublev and remain in the competition?

Alcaraz is on the verge of making an early exit at the year-ending ATP Finals 2024. In the 2023 edition, his debut at the season finale, Alcaraz made the last four before losing to eventual winner Novak Djokovic.

This edition in his opening match, the Spaniard was not at his best, battling a stomach ailment in the match against Casper Ruud. After the straight-set loss to Ruud, Alcaraz finds himself at the bottom of the John Newcombe Group.

🧴🧐 @carlosalcaraz se une a la moda del Vicks VapoRub: su fisio se lo aplica antes de entrenar hoy de cara al partido contra Rublev 📱 @dimedemi pic.twitter.com/89NZfRJdXZ

— MARCA (@marca) November 13, 2024

💪Carlos Alcaraz stays after practice to work on his running forehand. Reports say his sensations are better than in previous days. Still nowhere near his best but he’s working through it.📸: @gerebit0 pic.twitter.com/JbGXK52yOb

— Carlos Alcaraz Daily (@alcarazdaily) November 13, 2024

In the run-up to his round-robin match against Norwegian Casper Ruud, the World No. #3 had a flawless 4-0 record against Ruud. The recent loss has left Alcaraz on the brink of elimination and needing a win against Rublev to remain in the hunt.

Also Read: Carlos Alcaraz vs Andrey Rublev prediction, betting tips & odds, head-to-head, preview: ATP Finals 2024

A truncated practice session signifies all is not all with the 21-year-old Alcaraz. The Spaniard lost to his upcoming rival in the last eight of the Madrid Masters, and the defeat will weigh on his mind as much as his fitness issues. Rublev is third in the John Newcombe Group, ahead of the fourth-placed Alcaraz.

It will be a crucial matchup between Alcaraz and Rublev as both seek their first wins of the week in Turin. Alcaraz can dig deep even when not 100%, as seen against Ruud when he took a 5-2 lead in the second set against Ruud in their first group-stage match.

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