Ruud opens ATP Finals bid with win over Auger-Aliassime
CASPER Ruud claimed the first singles victory at this year’s ATP Finals with a straight-sets success over Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Ruud, the French Open and US Open runner-up and third seed, is bidding to reach the semi-finals for the second straight year having lost to Daniil Medvedev on his debut 12 months ago and put himself in a strong position with a 7-6 (4) 6-4 win in Turin.
Canadian Auger-Aliassime earned his first visit to the season-ending event thanks to a run of 16 straight victories and three consecutive ATP Tour titles in October and early November.
But, in a contest largely dominated by serve, he was unable to find the same form and a single break in the seventh
game of the second set proved enough for Ruud.
Nakashima clinches victory over Lehecka
Earlier, Brandon Nakashima became the first American winner of the ATP Next Gen Finals with a straight-sets victory over Jiri Lehecka on Saturday.
The 21-year-old was beaten by Sebastian Korda in last year’s semi-finals, but he more than made amends by winning all five matches in Milan en route to the title.
Lehecka was also defeated in straight sets by Nakashima in the group stage, but he broke his opponent in the opening game of the final at the Allianz Cloud.
Nakashima recovered from 3-1 down in a first set that went the distance and managed to get over the line after a 5-0 lead in the tie-break was reduced to 6-5.
Czech youngster Lehecka wasted a glorious chance to level up the contest when letting two set points pass him by in the second-set tie-break, which Nakashima went on to win.
The match was over inside 80 minutes as Nakashima, who struck 21 winners to Lehecka’s 27, served out the final set to win 4-3 (7-5) 4-3 (8-6) 4-2.
“I am super happy right now,” Nakashima said at his oncourt interview. “It was a great tournament, this whole week.
“This final was another tough match. Just a few points that could have gone either way. I am happy with my level today. It’s a good way to finish off the year.”