Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Nitto ATP Finals match.
For both Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev, the upcoming showdown is pivotal in their quest for a semi-final place at the ATP Finals. A win is essential for each player to keep their tournament hopes alive. Ruud has confidently navigated the courts in Turin, where he has bested Rublev twice in previous years, despite Rublev's overall advantage in their head-to-head record. In contrast, Rublev has often struggled at the ATP Finals, a trend that might continue in their upcoming encounter.
Casper Ruud
Casper Ruud is delivering strong performances in Turin, having reached both the semi-finals and final. In this tournament, Ruud has improved his serve accuracy to 80%, enabling him to win 71% of service points, significantly above his average. The indoor conditions in Turin suit his style, which adeptly balances defence and attack, posing challenges for Rublev, who favours powerful strokes.
Andrey Rublev
Rublev's aggressive play allows him to control the pace, but his form indoors this season has been inconsistent, with four losses in his last five matches. Currently, he is struggling to find focus, often falling behind due to missed opportunities and emotional lapses. His recent matches against Alexander Zverev (4:6, 4:6) and Carlos Alcaraz (3:6, 6:7) were particularly tough, potentially affecting his morale ahead of facing Ruud. Although Rublev has the upper hand in overall meetings with the Norwegian, Ruud has been stronger in Turin, defeating him twice at the ATP Finals.
Casper Ruud vs Andrey Rublev Prediction
Casper Ruud appears to be in better shape than Andrey Rublev for this crucial match. The Norwegian already has one victory this tournament, whereas Rublev is searching for his rhythm, often hampered by his emotional outbursts, which can cost him critical points. Thus, we'll go with a win for Casper Ruud, considering his capability to push top players like Zverev to tie-breaks and his impressive track record on Turin’s courts.
