ATP Finals: Rafael Nadal’s chances of ending the year as the top player in the world took a significant hit after losing in straight sets to rookie Taylor Fritz in his opening encounter at the ATP Finals in Turin.
Nadal started the competition 1,000 points behind fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who is now required to win the championship in order to pass him. Alcaraz is out of the competition due to injury.
His immediate goal is to improve following a mistake-filled performance in a 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 loss to American Fritz. He will face Felix Auger-Aliassime in his second group encounter.
The first set was of the highest calibre, but Nadal, who dropped the second poorly after losing his opening match at the Paris Masters the previous week and hasn’t won since the third round of the US Open more than two months ago, started to wane.
Thoughtful play on Fritz’s part allowed the 25-year-old to defeat Nadal for the second time this season after doing so in the Indian Wells final in the spring.
“I don’t think I was getting in the correct places in the first set,” said Nadal, who has been spending time at home with his newborn kid. I believe my serve was effective since he immediately started hitting the ball hard.
“Even though I practise well—certainly far better than how I compete—I need more matches to perform at this level. That is typical.
“Coming back to the tour after a few months off is not the best competition to play in because you won’t have had time to build up your confidence.
“I still have a shot at winning this tournament. Of course, the beginning makes me unhappy. For me, that first game was crucial.”
He will next play third seed Casper Ruud, who defeated Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in his best match since losing his second Grand Slam final of the year in New York.
Auger-Aliassime, a Canadian, qualified for the season-ending event for the first time after a string of 16 victories in a row and three consecutive ATP Tour titles in early October.
But he was unable to regain his previous form in a match that was mostly decided by serves, and Ruud was successful with just one break in the seventh game of the second set.
Two of the three British competitors in the doubles competition won on Sunday.
Fin and Lloyd Glasspool French Open champions Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer were defeated by Harri Heliovaara in his outstanding debut match, 7-5, 7-6.
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