Nitto ATP Finals Preview, Picks and Prediction: Alcaraz vs. Ruud

It will be a rematch of the 2022 US Open final when Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud meet in the round-robin phase of the Nitto ATP Finals on Monday afternoon.

This is how you would spice up this competition. In reality, however, it is a relatively uninteresting – and one-sided – duel between two players who limp to Turin without much self-confidence.

Of course, Alcaraz could get back up to speed and win the title at any time. However, the third-seeded Spaniard lost in straight sets to Tomas Machac in the quarter-finals in Shanghai and was then upset by Ugo Humbert in the third round in Paris, losing the first set of his three-set tie 6-1. In addition, a fast indoor hard court is Alcaraz’s least popular surface. The 21-year-old qualified for the semifinals on his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals last fall, but lost to Alexander Zverev in group play and was ultimately defeated by eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

Ruud has been in a significant crisis since the end of the clay court tournament. The seventh-seeded Norwegian has a terrible record of 2-8 in his last 10 matches since the US Open. Now he also finds himself on unfavorable ground – probably his second worst, only ahead of grass.

Even worse news for Ruud is that he is 0-4 lifetime against Alcaraz. The 25-year-old is 1-9 sets overall and has only gotten on the scoreboard once, coming off a setback 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6- in the final at Flushing Meadows two years ago. 3 had to accept.

This should be a perfect opportunity for Alcaraz to ease into this tournament and build confidence before facing a much more dangerous opponent in Zverev later in the week.

Selection: Alcaraz in 2