ATP Finals: Alexander Zverev vows to improve despite straight-sets win over Andrey Rublev - 'It wasn't perfect'

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Alexander Zverev dispatched Andrey Rublev 6-4,6-4 to open his ATP Finals account in Turin on Monday. The world No. 2 emerged victorious with one break in either set to claim victory in one hour and 11 minutes. Nevertheless, the German insisted he could do better, adding that he preferred his performances in Paris to his ATP Finals opener in Italy.

Zverev starts ATP Finals campaign with victory over Rublev

Video credit: SNTV

Alexander Zverev felt his performance "wasn't perfect" despite dispatching Andrey Rublev 6-4 6-4 to open his ATP Finals account in Turin.

After claiming ATP Masters 1000 titles in Rome and Paris and a runner-up finish at Roland-Garros, Zverev entered Turin as world No. 2 and ultimately lived up to the billing, edging past his opponent in two attritional sets.

Rublev, looking to reach the knockout rounds for the second time in his fifth consecutive ATP Finals appearance, lost to his German counterpart for the second year in succession.

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Zverev, however, insisted he could improve on his performance.

He told Sky Sports: "I think Andrey is somebody that is one of the most aggressive players on tour, so when you're not quite there, when you're not quite sharp against him, the match can go the opposite way very quickly.

"I was happy with my game for sure, and I'm looking forward to the next few matches where I can improve on a few things. I don't think this match was perfect, to be honest.

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"I think there are still a few things that can be better. I missed too many balls on the baseline. I think my movement wasn't as sharp as I would like to be or as I was in Paris. But it's the first match and I beat a top-10 player, so there's not too much to complain about."

He continued: "I think everybody, even Jannik [Sinner] will say that he still wants to improve this year - he had a next-to-perfect year as well. You always have to find ways to improve. I think in Paris the last few matches I played better than here, but again, this is the first match so we'll see where it goes."

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The 2024 ATP finals is the first iteration of the tournament to have not featured Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer since 2001.

However, Zverev insisted that Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner had set the benchmark for the year and are the ones to beat in Turin.

“I think the attention went to Carlos [Alcaraz] and Jannik [Sinner] all year long,” Zverev said, courtesy of ATP. “They deserve it, they won two Grand Slams each.

“It’s normal in sports, at some point everybody retires, new players come along. We have a great group of guys leading with Jannik and Carlos. I think they had a better year, even though I’m No. 2 in the world. The benchmark is those two guys.”

Earlier on Monday, Casper Ruud defeated four-time major winner Alcaraz in straight sets, with the Spaniard later admitting he was feeling unwell during the encounter.

In turn, world No. 6 Ruud is currently top of the John Newcombe Group, with Zverev in second, Rublev in third and Alcaraz languishing in fourth.

The first set saw Zverev hammering down serves at around the 140mph mark, with the German ultimately breaking Rublev to claim a 4-3 lead.

Zverev went on to consolidate the break and win the set 6-4, despite Rublev having at times caused his opponent problems with his venomous forehand.

Rublev, a 2022 semi-finalist, was receiving lots of support from the Turin crowd and held his lead for much of the second set as both players held their serves.

That was until a lovely exchange saw Zverev come out on top at the net for a 0-30 lead, with Rublev subsequently netting, and then sending a horrible forehand long from mid-court to cough up a break and give Zverev the chance to serve for the match.

The German then sealed the win with a 142mph ace on his first match points, claiming victory over his opponent in one hour and 11 minutes.

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