Alexander Zverev began his ATP Finals campaign in Turin with a convincing 6-4, 6-4 win over Andrey Rublev in their round-robin opener. Zverev, who won the ATP Finals in 2018 and 2021, showcased solid play, converting both break points he had and not allowing Rublev any opportunities to break his serve. The German, who recently claimed the Paris Masters 1000 title, has been enjoying a strong comeback after a challenging 2022 season, during which he dropped out of the top 25. Now ranked No. 2 in the world, Zverev expressed his satisfaction with the win and his desire to continue improving.
 
Earlier in the day, Casper Ruud defeated Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 7-5 in a match where he dominated the first set and then made a remarkable comeback from 5-2 down in the second set. Alcaraz, the world No. 3, struggled with a cold and mental fatigue, which affected his performance. Despite his uncharacteristic 34 unforced errors, Alcaraz admitted to not feeling well on court and cited the demanding schedule and lack of rest as factors in his performance. Ruud, who was 0-7 in his previous matches leading into the Finals, claimed his first victory over Alcaraz in five meetings.
 
Zverev's win places him second in the John Newcombe group, just behind Ruud, while the top players in both groups will progress to the semifinals later in the week.