- 'Welcome back': Trump, Biden shake hands in White House
- Tech's green wave hits choppy waters
- Fernandes hopes Amorim can 'change the energy' at Man Utd
- Trump, Biden shake hands in White House, vow smooth transfer
- Gatland battling 'pain' during tough Wales rebuild
- COP29 fight for climate money 'humiliating': Bangladesh's Yunus
- McIlroy aims for glory on happy hunting ground in Dubai
- Spain evacuates thousands in fresh flood alarm
- US death row inmate stages jazz protest for release in London court
- Markets stall, inflation and bitcoin rise amid Trump fears
- Germany's embattled Scholz trades blows with rivals as election looms
- Alcaraz beats Rublev to open ATP Finals account
- 'I had to gather my strength': Ukrainians abroad sign up to fight
- 'Legend' Healy set to equal O'Driscoll record against Pumas
- Record stand propels Sri Lanka to 324-5 against New Zealand
- US consumer inflation rises in October on higher housing costs
- S.Africa football chief arrested on fraud, theft charges
- UK's The Guardian stops posting on 'toxic media platform' X
- Stark warning on emissions as leaders divided at COP29
- Berlin's creatives rally against arts funding cuts
- Barca's Fati sidelined with hamstring injury
- Gatland changes four for crunch WalesTest against Australia
- Heavy rains lash Spain after deadly floods
- India delivery app Swiggy shares gain on market debut
- Performance not results counts for Pumas coach Contepomi
- Stock markets diverge as Trump fears build
- No end in sight to Sudan war as both sides seek 'decisive' win
- Demands for Church of England reform after abuse scandal
- Russia launches drone, missile barrage on Kyiv
- Iran hangs man 'for second time' after previous execution halted: NGO
- US vows 'firm' response to N.Korea deployment in Ukraine conflict
- Airlines ground Bali flights after volcano erupts
- Indonesians drill for disaster before tsunami anniversary
- Journalist says his detention removed Guatemala's 'mask of democracy'
- Triumphant Trump returns to White House to meet Biden
- Nearly half of tropical coral species face extinction: report
- Stark warning on emissions as leaders split on climate goals at COP29
- Most Asian markets extend losses as Trump fears build
- Evacuations and call for aid as Typhoon Usagi approaches Philippines
- Istanbul's historic baths keep hammam tradition alive
- Australia boss warns of 'desperate' Saudis in World Cup qualifier
- South Korean president dusts off the golf clubs for Trump
- Electrician finds frescoes behind false ceiling in Rome
- 7-Eleven owner announces counter-bid to foreign buyout
- Top Africa orchestra began with brake cables for strings
- France's bullfighters see red over bill to ban under-16s
- China snuffs out memorials to victims of deadly car rampage
- Fifth Greenland hearing for anti-whaling activist Watson
- Kurdish activist fled Iran into Italy nightmare
- Airlines around Asia ground Bali flights after volcano erupts
RYCEF | -0.7% | 7.11 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.24% | 24.6 | $ | |
BCC | 1.97% | 143.97 | $ | |
RBGPF | -1.43% | 59.34 | $ | |
SCS | -0.33% | 13.625 | $ | |
BCE | -1.6% | 27.255 | $ | |
NGG | -1.26% | 62.115 | $ | |
RIO | -0.72% | 60.76 | $ | |
GSK | -1.02% | 35.16 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.12% | 24.78 | $ | |
VOD | 3.09% | 8.74 | $ | |
JRI | 0.13% | 13.237 | $ | |
RELX | -1.03% | 46.115 | $ | |
AZN | -0.26% | 65.021 | $ | |
BTI | 0.31% | 35.35 | $ | |
BP | 1.24% | 28.515 | $ |
Alcaraz beaten by Ruud in ATP Finals opener
Norway's Casper Ruud eased to a straight-sets victory over Carlos Alcaraz on Monday as the Spanish star's bid for a maiden ATP Finals title got off to a poor start.
Ruud romped through the opening set before fighting back from 5-2 behind in the second to win 6-1, 7-5 in Turin.
World number three Alcaraz, who won the French Open and Wimbledon titles earlier this year, made 34 unforced errors in an uncharacteristically errant display.
It was Ruud's first victory over Alcaraz in their five career meetings.
"I had two good times in Turin before... This part of the season has not been good for me but hopefully I've saved some wins for this week and I've started well," said 2022 runner-up Ruud, who had suffered seven defeats in eight matches before this tournament.
Ruud will head into his second match in the John Newcombe group against Andrey Rublev on Wednesday already well-placed to reach the semi-finals for the third time in as many appearances at the year-end event.
Alcaraz could be eliminated if he loses to second-ranked Alexander Zverev, who faces Rublev in his opener later on Monday.
Third seed Alcaraz quickly slipped 4-1 down, giving up his serve in the fourth game before seeing three break points come and go in the next.
Ruud stretched a double-break in front as Alcaraz fired a loose forehand wide and wrapped up the opening set in just 36 minutes with a hold to love.
The four-time Grand Slam champion improved early in the second set, though, bringing up his sixth break point of the match with a trademark forehand winner.
He took the opportunity with a delicate volley and then moved into a 5-2 lead with a clinical hold.
But Ruud dug deep to force Alcaraz to serve for the set before breaking back en route to levelling the set.
The errors suddenly started to flow again from Alcaraz's racquet and a wild forehand followed by an excellent Ruud return gave the sixth seed the chance to serve for the match.
Ruud closed it out in style on his third match point with an ace, completing a run of five straight games.
G.Schulte--BTB