Nadal leaves ATP Finals with consolation win

Rafael Nadal saved some honour yesterday, beating Casper Ruud 7-5, 7-5, as he bowed out of the ATP Finals in Turin at the pool stage.

Nadal, the top seed in the event in the absence of injured world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz, had opened by losing his first two matches in the Green Group. He was already eliminated when he faced Ruud, who won his first two matches to book a semi-final spot.

“I have been practising well,” said Nadal, who was struggled with injury since scratching from the Wimbledon semi-final in July.

“Just probably not enough matches to be at the level that I needed to be.”