Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud both say what they think about Carlos Alcaraz ahead of the ATP Finals starting
Carlos Alcaraz has received praise from his fellow ATP Finals competitors Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud.
The World’s top eight plates are set to battle in Turin with the season-ending championship trophy on the line.
Alcaraz enters the tournament as one of the favourites for the title after producing another special season which has yielded four titles so far.
The 21-year-old aims to add a fifth to his 2024 CV as he aims to win the ATP Finals for the first time in his career.
What did Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud say about Carlos Alcaraz?
Like many players, Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud both have very tough matches against Carlos Alcaraz.
His aggressive shotmaking and flair, in addition to his supreme athleticism, make him one of the best players on the ATP Tour.
At such a young age he already achieved what most players do not do in a lifetime, such as winning Grand Slams and becoming the World number one.
This was acknowledged by Zverev and Ruud, who described Alcaraz as a ‘legend’ of the game. “Carlos’s career already is a Hall of Fame career and he is only very young still,” the German told reporters via Tennis TV.
“Winning four grand slams shows that he is a big match player. He is a player who can take the racket out of your hands and it’s always great battles with him.”
Ruud added: “His career I would describe already as close to legendary. He has won a slam on every surface already.
“Two this year, which was incredible to watch and I think he did something which is the most difficult feat in tennis, which is to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. It’s something not many people have done. I have the utmost respect for that.
“I love watching him play, honestly, it’s so great for the sport. I don’t necessarily always love playing him as it’s so tough. But typically it comes down to really fun points. He is so electric, he can hit any shot in the world.”
What are Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud’s head-to-head records against Carlos Alcaraz?
Alcaraz has played a combined 14 matches against Zverev and Ruud.
In the 10 he has played against Zverev, they are level at five wins apiece. Alcaraz claimed their last two matches at the Indian Wells Masters and the French Open final.
Despite holding a two sets to one lead, Alcaraz overturned the deficit to defeat his rival and win his first title at Roland Garros.
Ruud on the other hand, has yet to defeat Alcaraz after playing the former World number one on four occasions.
From these meetings, the Norwegian has only claimed one set, which came in the 2022 US Open final. Alcaraz won that encounter 6-4 2-6 7-6(1) 6-3 to win the first of his four Grand Slams at just 19 years of age.
