Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Rublev Prediction: Can Alcaraz Recover After a Stumble Against Ruud?

The highly-esteemed ATP Tour Finals in Turin see two of tennis's brightest shining lights square up in Group B, with plenty on the line as Carlos Alcaraz meets Alexander Rublev. Both men faced tough losses to kick things off-Alcaraz lost for one of the rare times this season in straight sets to Casper Ruud, while Rublev fell to Zverev. Each will be seeking a rebound and a keeping of his semi-final chances alive in this Round 2 clash, knowing full well the high stakes and fierce competition that await him on Turin's fast hard court.

The dynamic and powerful young star, Carlos Alcaraz, faces Alexander Rublev. Third-ranked Alcaraz is an aggressive shot-maker, while the relentless baseline power of Rublev has earned him major titles and a top-10 ranking. Rublev leads the head-to-head 2-1, but Alcaraz won his most recent encounter, showing just how fast he's growing up on tour. That will make this match in Turin probably a crucial determinant for going through to the next stage, and for that, it will be as important as it will be exciting.

Carlos Alcaraz: Most likely, Alcaraz will be relying on high-percentage first serves and try to take advantage of Rublev's sometimes vulnerable second serve. In order to neutralize Rublev's aggressive groundstrokes, Alcaraz can try some variation in the speed and placement of his shots, especially deep returns to push Rublev behind the baseline. Furthermore, the physicality and strong forehand of the Spaniard give him the advantage in rallying points-especially if he is able to draw longer exchanges out of Rublev.

Alexander Rublev: The plan for Rublev is going to be around his powerful first serve and the ability to win the points from the baseline. The forehand is the most prized weapon, and he's going to try to take control of the rally with it as early as possible. Against Alcaraz's speed, Rublev can use angled cross-court shots and normal net approaches to jam Alcaraz up in passing shots. Rublev would have to bank on his mental toughness, for the Russian has struggled in the ATP Finals in the past. Confidence and composure would lie at the heart of his approach.

With both players coming off of losses, Alcaraz's overall consistency and ability to change up tactics mid-match give him a slight edge over Rublev. That last match against Ruud did show some vulnerabilities for Alcaraz, but quite often he does come back stronger after a loss like that. Expect Alcaraz to test the backhand of Rublev with drop shots as a way to get his opponent out of rhythm.

Alcaraz has been one of those players who, during big-pressure matches, usually gets off to an excellent start by using early energy to his advantage. With Rublev under pressure right from the beginning, Alcaraz would most probably be leading first by focusing on a high percentage of first serves and cutting down the unforced errors.

Both Alcaraz and Rublev have been through numerous high-intensity, competitive matches that carry numerous games. Their very similar levels of skill and desperation to win this round out of the competitors further suggest this game could push over the 20.5-game mark, into a tie-break or three-set battle.

• Carlos Alcaraz Wins & Over 19.5 Games @ 19.6 Odds
• Carlos Alcaraz Wins First Set & Match @ 1.56 Odds
• Total 2 Sets @ 1.57 Odds