ATP Finals: In-form Alexander Zverev downs Andrey Rublev

11/11/2024 05:21 PM

World no. 2 Alexander Zverev scored a victory at the ATP Finals on Monday night. Alexander faced world no. 8 Andrey Rublev for the first time in a year and earned a 6-4, 6-4 win in an hour and 12 minutes. The Paris Masters champion played flawless tennis on serve and used his chances with both hands to seal the deal in no time and join Casper Ruud at the top of the group standings. The German is seeking his third ATP Finals trophy, having won it in 2018 and 2021.

The German served at 70% and faced no issues behind the initial shot, firing 21 service winners and dropping ten points in ten service games. Alexander faced no break points and kept the pressure on the other side. He turned 31% of the return points into two breaks from as many opportunities, earning return games in the second part of each set to control the scoreboard and sail over the top. World no. 2 landed 22 winners and nine unforced errors, taming his strokes nicely and reducing his opponent to a 10-10 ratio. Zverev hit more service winners and had the upper hand from the baseline. Rublev built a slight edge in the more advanced rallies. However, he trailed in the shortest ones, struggling to impose his strokes before his good friend.

The encounter kicked off with six comfortable holds. Zverev landed a service winner in game six for a hold at 15 and made a push on the return in the next one. The Russian missed a forehand at 3-3 and offered his opponent two break chances. He sprayed another forehand error on the first, losing serve and falling 4-3 behind. Alexander clinched the eighth game with a forehand winner and landed an unreturned serve at 5-4 to wrap up the opener in 34 minutes.

Rublev served well in the second set, following the rival's pace and hoping to create break chances. Instead, Zverev clinched the sixth game with a forehand drive-volley winner and locked the result at 4-4 with a powerful serve two games later. Andrey lost his focus in the ninth game, netting a forehand and facing two break points. He sprayed a routine forehand error on the first, falling 5-4 behind and allowing Alexander to serve for the win. The German hit a smash winner for 30-15 and generated match points with a backhand down the line winner. He fired an ace down the T line on the first, sealing the deal in style and earning 200 ATP points.