Alcaraz and his serve lead the way to the tenth final of the year

Andrés Tomás Rico | 29 Sep 2025 | 13.20

Alcaraz and his serve dictate the path to the tenth final of the year. Photo: Getty Images

Streaming ATP Gstaad live tennis

🎾 Jaime Faria vs Casper Ruud

Sign up with Bet365 here
Make your first deposit of at least €5
Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

Carlos Alcaraz knows no bounds. The world number one seems tireless in his quest for victories, already tallying 66 in 2025, and reaching finals seems routine, this being his tenth of the year and ninth in a row. The mantra repeats day after day: Alcaraz, as of now, has no rival. Even though Casper Ruud posed challenges with a very complete first set, the Murcian accepted the challenge, raised his level, and with his serve, solved a closely contested match (3-6, 6-3, 6-4) to advance to the final of the ATP Tokyo, where Taylor Fritz awaits, the player who defeated him last week at the Laver Cup. More motivation for an Alcaraz who has an insatiable hunger.

After the impressive display in his previous match in the ATP Tokyo against Brandon Nakashima, where Carlos Alcaraz once again approached perfection, it remained to be seen how he would perform against an opponent of Casper Ruud's caliber. Although the Murcian has shown on more than one occasion that he doesn't care who his opponent is, the duel against the Norwegian offered a perfect opportunity to confirm that he is at the peak of his career.

It goes without saying that Casper Ruud is not Nakashima, Zizou Bergs, or Sebastián Baez. Despite having been injured since Roland Garros and returning at the US Open, the Norwegian quickly regained form and proved to be a real obstacle for Alcaraz to reach his tenth final of the season.

However, the Spaniard's confidence was such that, as in his previous matches, he enjoyed break points to take an early lead. But the Norwegian is known to be solid, patiently thwarting each attempt. It was a challenge that the world number one had not experienced throughout his week in Tokyo.

Alcaraz's magic wand was not working

Furthermore, the Spaniard's serve was less effective than in the rest of the tournament, with a 61% first serve percentage. For the first time in many days, Alcaraz did not dictate the match and started to feel uneasy. This feeling intensified when he squandered a 15-40 lead in the seventh game. That situation frustrated the Murcian and elevated the Norwegian, who, apart from playing a very disciplined match, seemed to have stolen Alcaraz's inspiration to claim the first set 6-3.

It seemed like it was not Carlitos' day, especially with Ruud's high level enjoying a break point in the first game, but he shifted gears. If his serves were not clicking in the first set, they turned into missiles in the second. His attitude also changed, shifting from frustration to determination. Alcaraz wanted one more final, finally broke Ruud's serve, and went up 3-0.

The serve returned, the best Alcaraz returned

Now the Alcaraz seen throughout the week emerged, dominating with his forehand and precise with his serve. And when the world number one reaches those levels of tennis and efficiency, there is little Casper Ruud could do as El Palmar's player took the set 6-3 and forced a decisive set. The serve improvement tipped the balance, going from a 61% first-serve effectiveness in the first set to 76% in the second set. Significant progress.

As the third set began, the strengths leveled out. Ruud did not falter, accepted the storm of the second set but displayed the order of the first set. Meanwhile, Alcaraz's first serve temporarily disappeared, and the Norwegian had two break points in the third game that could have been decisive, but that was when the Murcian's serve returned. Showing once more how challenging it is to break, in every sense, the world number one.

The number one when everything evens out

And that's when the match concluded. Alcaraz capitalized on Oslo's regret to break in the following game and establish a 4-2 lead. Another example of why Alcaraz stands a cut above the rest; when he needs to deliver, he doesn't falter.

Despite Ruud's refusal to give up, Alcaraz did not let go of the match. His serve, impeccable in the second and part of the third set, paved the way for the Spanish victory by 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, where although he had to work hard to break through the Norwegian's ice wall, once again demonstrated the numerous reasons that confirm him as the best tennis player in the world.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz y su saque dictan el camino a la décima final del año

ATP