How Alcaraz’s power forced Rublev to bloody himself in shock scene

It is a rather rare and lamentable sight on the tennis court to witness a seasoned star resorting to repeatedly striking his racquet against his leg, to the point of drawing blood from his kneecap.

This unfortunate display of emotions unfolded in Turin, Italy, involving none other than Andrey Rublev, who, consumed by frustration, unleashed his anger upon himself during a 7-5, 6-2 defeat against Carlos Alcaraz at the ATP Finals on Wednesday.

The fifth-seeded Rublev had already vented his agitation by slamming his racket to the ground during the opening game of the second set. However, when he missed a crucial shot, resulting in a break for Alcaraz, Rublev’s frustration reached its peak. He began beating himself as he made his way to his chair, and had to use a towel to wipe the blood off his leg. Despite the blood continuing to trickle down, Rublev valiantly soldiered on and eventually called for a trainer to receive treatment for his injuries.

World number two Alcaraz had been grappling with issues concerning both his form and fitness in recent months. After suffering a defeat in his opening match against Alexander Zverev, he found himself on the brink of an early exit from the tournament. 

However, the 20-year-old fought back and showcased a stunning improvement in his condition during his encounter with Rublev. He displayed exceptional prowess, losing only a single point on his first serve. The Spaniard managed to secure a crucial breakthrough against the Russian in the 11th game, sealing the set by serving it out in style.

The contrasting fortunes of the two big names were quite evident. Following his outburst earlier, Rublev continued to struggle with his emotions, appearing on the verge of tears at times. Unfortunately, he faced another setback as Alcaraz took a vital break from him. The relentless Alcaraz displayed his ruthlessness, winning the final 12 points of the tie, thereby keeping himself in contention for a spot in the semifinals.

“I’m really happy to show this level and realize that my level is still there, giving myself a chance in this tournament,” said Alcaraz, who unfortunately missed out on last year’s ATP Finals due to an abdominal injury. It is indeed his first time participating in the prestigious season-ending event that gathers the world’s top eight players. The Wimbledon champion continued, “After this win, everything has changed in my mind.”

Later in the day, Rublev dismissed his self-inflicted harm as a trivial matter, stating, “It’s nothing.” However, a crestfallen Rublev acknowledged his disappointment and admitted that he struggled to cope with the situation. While the physical scar on his knee will eventually heal, the emotional wounds from what has been a challenging end to the season will undoubtedly linger and prove difficult to overcome.