Carlos Alcaraz overcame illness to beat Andrey Rublev in impressive fashion and revive his ATP Finals hopes with a 6-3 7-6 (10-8) victory in Turin.
The four-time Grand Slam champion has been suffering from respiratory issues during the week which affected his performance in an opening round-robin defeat to Casper Ruud on Monday.
However, the third seed showed a significant improvement against Rublev, securing a straight-sets win and handing his opponent a second consecutive defeat in the tournament.
Later on Wednesday, Zverev also clinched a straight-sets victory over Ruud, moving closer to a spot in the semi-finals.
Alcaraz took control of the match after breaking Rublev’s serve with a scorching forehand winner, winning five consecutive games to dominate the proceedings.
In the second set, Rublev managed to keep pace with Alcaraz and had opportunities to break back, but the Spaniard held firm and eventually sealed the victory in a high-octane tie-break.
With this win, Rublev has now lost six consecutive matches in straight sets at the ATP Finals since reaching the semi-finals in 2022.
Alcaraz is now set to face world No 2 Zverev in his final group match on Friday, where a win would secure his spot in the final four.
After his impressive performance, Alcaraz expressed his surprise at his own level of play and credited his focus and determination on the court despite his illness.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports’ Laura Robson noted the complete turnaround in Alcaraz’s attitude compared to his previous match, highlighting his enjoyment and crowd engagement in the victory over Rublev.
It will be an exciting match between Zverev and Alcaraz, with both players in great form. Zverev will be looking to secure his spot in the semi-finals, while Alcaraz will be fighting for a chance to advance. The stage is set for a thrilling showdown between these two talented players.