Alcaraz Given Ruud Awakening With Defeat in ATP Finals Opener

Alcaraz Given Ruud Awakening With Defeat in ATP Finals Opener
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz reacts during his men's singles group stage match against Norway's Casper Ruud during ATP Finals at Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 11, 2024. Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
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TURIN, Italy—An off-color Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock 6–1, 7–5 defeat against Norway’s Casper Ruud in his opening match at the ATP Finals as the Spaniard’s hopes of winning the year-end title for the first time suffered a blow on Monday.

The round-robin format of the eight-man event means he could still crown a standout year in style, but the third seed has left himself with little margin for error in his remaining group matches and will need to find a higher level.