Last year was a difficult end of the year for me. I could not play at my best. The last two matches here were pretty good matches for me but the previous two, three tournaments I didn’t play at my best, so I realised I had to change a little bit at this time of the year, which I did this year.
I come here a little bit different. I approach this tournament a little differently, knowing there are things I have to change if I am to have a good result here and go far. Last year I didn’t start well from the first matches. I will try to play the same level and will try to play good tennis. I am coming here with a lot of motivation.
ATP Finals is the biggest men’s tennis event after the four grand slams and the format is quite different to other events.
The top eight players are separated into two groups of four where they each play three round-robin matches. After the group stage, the top two face off in the semi-finals and a final to determine the winner.
Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud. The two are the first to face off in the John Newcombe Group at the Inalpi Arena.
Alcaraz has had a fantastic year, winning two grand slams and winning silver at the Olympics. The world No 3 has a chance to move up a spot in the year-end rankings should he do well here in Turin.
Ruud, on the other hand, epitomises the saying ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride’. The world No 7 is a three-time slam finalist and also finished second at the 2022 ATP finals, losing 7-5, 6-3 to Novak Djokovic. He lost three ATP finals early on this year before winning in Barcelona and Geneva.
Join me for the 1pm GMT start and, as always, send me an email if you have any thoughts, predictions, questions, or complaints you would like to share.
