A subdued Alcaraz stumbles in the premiere of the Masters Cup against Ruud

He wanted to fully enter the role of favorite, to confirm that he has learned the lesson to which Juan Carlos Ferrero invited him that the year did not only go until September, but until November. He has managed to stretch his energy beyond the summer, rising from the mood drop after the Olympic silver that caused him to fall in the second round at the US Open and explode with rage and frustration in the first round of the Cincinnati Masters 1,000. The crown in Beijing, and against Sinner, was the demonstration that learning was making an impact. But, for the moment, the situation in the exclusivity tournament is complicated, because his defeat is in two sets and he is forced not only to beat Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev no matter what, but to wait for the results of his opponents to See if there are options to at least reach last year’s semifinals.

The Spaniard had this almost cursed tournament for Spain between his eyebrows. Only two teachers, and one teacher: Orantes in 1976, Corretja in 1998 and Muguruza in 2021. The court is difficult, the lack of more tournaments to prepare well for the adaptation, the movements, the body posture, lower than normal because the The ball goes fast but it doesn’t rise like it does on other surfaces. And indoors, which also influences because everything sounds different and being able to control all the elements (without wind or sun) increases the speed of exchanges: less respite, fewer options to recover in case of a mistake, less strategy and much less patience . And added to today’s tennis, a Molotov cocktail.

In that duel, the staff predicts that Alcaraz moves better, arrives better, and that Ruud will be weighed down by this second part of the gray season: losing in the last eight tournaments in the first or second round. But the Norwegian has been a finalist three times in this tournament, in the three editions he has played, and he puts great pressure in the debut, even to save two break points in the first game, to put half a fang in the fourth, to pick up another five break balls in the fifth, and to put the entire fang in the sixth. A 6-1 in 36 minutes that sets off the staff’s alarms.

Alcaraz helps this kind of surprise, which Ruud plays well but not for this siege. It is difficult for him to start, as happened last year, and although he shows energy this time, he lacks the correct link between ideas and execution and has too much haste. He plays in a hurry and, at the same time, lethargic, with too many errors with his forehand, from which he was already limping in the previous training sessions, little serve (only six points in favor in the first set) and anger that is difficult for him to hide. He is not there, trapped in a too dense cloud that is reflected in his steps along the bank, lounging, head down, without a smile.

The Murcian has starred in many of these, aware that he is superior to almost anyone and that everything is in his hands, especially against rivals like Ruud, pride and good level. He refuses to give up this tournament that would make him unique in Spanish tennis in the 21st century. He knows that the road is very long and although here each set and each game is counted, and already behind, he begins to trust in his first serve, which shows the way in the second set, no matter how firm the Norwegian remains. One is the example of perseverance and work as far as it goes; the other, the one who also moves in the mine if necessary but has gold to shine and go from discouragement to fireworks. But also the opposite.

The mood is different, the takeoff appears, and the smile, and the right that finally enters and with intention, to manipulate the Norwegian at will this time, without the daring of before, and that assumes the first break against. What in the first half hour has not entered in the second goes with a red carpet from side to side, from corner to corner, from line to line. The connection between ideas and execution that was cut off at the beginning flows perfectly. The frown opens and the fingers appear upward, the gesture defiant. A 5-2 that the Inalpi Arena celebrates with shouts of “Carlitos, Carlitos”.

But the takeoff lasts as long as it lasts. He is still not there, without being him. The trap falls again with force despite the spirit of the stands, who want to see the one they consider the worthy opponent of their local hero shine. Ruud is, however, the one who shoots more professionally, more regularly, more temperate and the one who makes the comeback and manages to recover the break and force the Spaniard’s break, once again depressed because he had tried and thought that everything was already done and the right went out again.

Alcaraz puffs at the end, assuming the umpteenth disconnection, shaking his head when he sees how Ruud’s serve ends him with an ace. The ATP Finals is not starting well, again. And something even worse than last year, when he lost in the debut against Alexander Zverev, but in three sets, which counted for his part to be able to advance to the semifinals. Now it’s time to wait for the results of his rivals, but he knows that he has two finals ahead of him (the first on Wednesday with the loser of Zverev-Rublev) if he wants to continue pursuing the dream of a Masters Cup that resists and resists and resists. .